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Daughters of the Dynasty #1
Heiress Apparently
The first book in an epic and romantic YA series following the fictionalized descendants of the only officially recognized empress regent of China
Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.
Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.
Unknown Binding
First published December 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
July 11, 2021
I think another 3 solid stars are coming up. The reason is obvious : I liked some parts but the entire concept and pacing didn’t work for me!
Funny thing about this book: it’s advertised as American Royals meets Loveboat, Taipei and I wasn’t a big fan of both books as well. But I liked to read more about Eastern culture and traditions and the blurb attracted my attention so I gave it a go.
I have to admit I loved Gemma Huang who is main protagonist, an aspiring, rising Chinese American movie star. After being selected to be cast of toothpaste commercial, she meets with Ken- a gorgeous future boyfriend- then she attends to the audition of M. Butterfly’s remake: they don’t choose her so she gets an offer to replace Constance Wu at Crazy Rich Asians! Okay, I lied, I just tested you to make sure you keep reading my review🙈🙈
Of course she gets the role and most of the scenes will take place in China which means there is a big conflict will occur: she has to go against her family’s first rule: “never set a foot in Beijing”
As soon as her plane lands to Beijing, she finds out she’s so popular and she already has her devoted fans. How could this be happening to her? Then she finds her answer: she looks like celebrity societal Alyssa Chua’s identical twin. What a disappointment!
I’m not gonna give many spoilers about the book but I want to summarize what I liked and what irritated me deeply.
I enjoyed to learn more about the historical presentation about Chinese culture, a woman warrior’s history. I also loved the author’s approach to the sensitive issues like LGBTQ rights, racism.
But pacing was so slow, Gemma’s self interrogation about her priorities of her life turned into repeating spiral and the progression and conclusion were so foreseeable.
I still want to read more books of the author because the plot was interesting and cultural elements embellished the story’s structure perfectly. But so far that was not a right book for me! I wanted to read something more gripping and exciting.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Kids/ Amulet Kids for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
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Funny thing about this book: it’s advertised as American Royals meets Loveboat, Taipei and I wasn’t a big fan of both books as well. But I liked to read more about Eastern culture and traditions and the blurb attracted my attention so I gave it a go.
I have to admit I loved Gemma Huang who is main protagonist, an aspiring, rising Chinese American movie star. After being selected to be cast of toothpaste commercial, she meets with Ken- a gorgeous future boyfriend- then she attends to the audition of M. Butterfly’s remake: they don’t choose her so she gets an offer to replace Constance Wu at Crazy Rich Asians! Okay, I lied, I just tested you to make sure you keep reading my review🙈🙈
Of course she gets the role and most of the scenes will take place in China which means there is a big conflict will occur: she has to go against her family’s first rule: “never set a foot in Beijing”
As soon as her plane lands to Beijing, she finds out she’s so popular and she already has her devoted fans. How could this be happening to her? Then she finds her answer: she looks like celebrity societal Alyssa Chua’s identical twin. What a disappointment!
I’m not gonna give many spoilers about the book but I want to summarize what I liked and what irritated me deeply.
I enjoyed to learn more about the historical presentation about Chinese culture, a woman warrior’s history. I also loved the author’s approach to the sensitive issues like LGBTQ rights, racism.
But pacing was so slow, Gemma’s self interrogation about her priorities of her life turned into repeating spiral and the progression and conclusion were so foreseeable.
I still want to read more books of the author because the plot was interesting and cultural elements embellished the story’s structure perfectly. But so far that was not a right book for me! I wanted to read something more gripping and exciting.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Kids/ Amulet Kids for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
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December 6, 2025
Gemma Huang graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago and since then, she's moved to LA (from Illinois) to take a gap year of acting (much to her mother's disappointment and her father's worry).
After a few "hard" (note - me being sarcastic) weeks of trying out for parts, she manages to land the lead role in a redo of M. Butterfly.
She plays Sonia, who dresses as a man (Song) to get a job with her ex-boyfriend. The script is awful but at least she gets to work with her dream director!
She's whisked away to China to film BUT (and this is a big BUT), she hides it all from her parents. Her mother has expressly forbidden her from talking about what life was like for her parents in China.
Gemma gets there and is immediately mistaken for Alyssa Chua - a wealthy socialite (19 yrs old). Turns out they're cousins and together they begin to unravel why Gemma's mom fled to America and has hidden their Chinese heritage.
So. On paper this one worked really well.
I loved the concept - it seemed like it was going to be a YA Crazy Rich Asians…except…it flopped for me.
There were elements that worked (LOVED the inclusion of Chinese culture and how the MC had issues trying to fit in with her American life and her Chinese heritage...but it felt like everything was handed to her.
She was in LA for like a week working "very hard" and then lands a major role. She gets one hot boy and then meets another hotter one.
She expresses the slightest doubt (despite having no movie experience) and she gets script changes. She learns that she's rich and eventually gets money.
I wanted to watch her struggle and try and do her best and fail before hitting it big.
In addition, there were elements that just didn't feel very well thought out.
If something is so serious that no one even talks about Tienanmen Square (and it's been erased from the history books) why is she constantly blabbing about it? Isn't she worried about consequences?
In addition, her mom told her that she couldn't go to China and that she would have no idea what will happen if she does go.
To me...it clearly sounds crazy-dangerous to run to China and just talk to everyone she sees about her mom and Tienanmen Square but Gemma just barrels through. It felt like she needed more societal awareness.
Ultimately, there were elements that worked well but most of it just didn't work for me. I'm leaving off my rating on Goodreads cause I don't want people to be influenced by my interpretation.
With thanks to Netgalley, Amulet Books and Diana Ma for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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May 25, 2022
"This epic first installment in the Daughter of the Dynasty series is sure to appeal to fans of American Royals and Loveboat, Taipei."
That's me. I am a huge fan of both of these but was not a huge fan of Heiress Apparently— apparently (Sorry, I had to do it).
The main character is Gemma Huang, an aspiring Chinese American actress. One day, she goes to a casting for a toothpaste commercial where she meets her would-be boyfriend, Ken. He is also Chinese American and aspiring to be in the entertainment industry. Another day, she goes to a casting for a remake M. Butterfly and she gets the lead role. The filming location is Beijing and her family's #1 rule is to never step foot in Beijing. As for the reason behind this rule, she doesn't know...yet. For her career, she decides to break her family's rule and goes to Beijing to start filming. When she lands in Beijing, she is met with a crowd of "her fans". Later, she finds out that she looks nearly identical to Alyssa Chua, a famous Chinese socialite, and she has no idea why.
Something that I liked in this book was that I could somewhat relate to Gemma. I am Asian American as well. When I was younger, I dealt with the feelings of not being "Asian enough" or not being "American enough", just like Gemma. In the book, Gemma mentions that she would get asked the question, "Have you been to China?". This question reminded me of when I was younger and when I would get asked this question or similar questions. *mini rant* I hate this question and get pissed when people ask this. This question just brings back so many bad memories. I don't know why people ask this. Just because someone is of an ethnicity or a nationality does not mean that he/she has been there or was even born there. To answer the question: No, I haven't been to China and I'm not even Chinese. Sorry, back to the review.
Another thing that I liked was the inclusion of China's history. In this book, the Cultural Revolution, Tiananmen Massacre, and Empress Wu Zetian were brought up and explained pretty well (in my opinion), but I may be wrong because I'm not much of a history person. Empress Wu Zetian is a person that is pertinent to the story. The book describes her as the only female ruler/regent of China, which is true, but she is also known as Emperor Wu Zetian.
The last things I like (before we get into everything I didn't like) are the topics that were brought up, like racism, stereotypes, peoples' views, LGBTQ+ rights, etc... There is a Lesbian couple (love the diversity).
This book is very predictable and boring. This took me forever to read. I even considered to DNF it. The synopsis of the book practically gives away the ending. The ending (for me) was cringy.
“Its the not the Destination, It's the journey.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Right? Well, the journey wasn't so great either. There isn't really much of a plot. Sometimes, Gemma is concerned about her acting career. One day, she is concerned about her family and finding her identity. Another day, she is just in her hotel room eating ice cream.
I didn't like the use of Dramatic Irony. It started to get old and boring. I was just waiting for Gemma to finally figure it out or for someone to tell her.
I didn't really care about the characters. They are so boring, annoying, and dramatic.
If a book is this bad, probably the romance can save it, right? Well, with this book it didn't. The romance was so predictable and cringy. It was the classic "out with the old and in with the new".
ARC received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
That's me. I am a huge fan of both of these but was not a huge fan of Heiress Apparently— apparently (Sorry, I had to do it).
The main character is Gemma Huang, an aspiring Chinese American actress. One day, she goes to a casting for a toothpaste commercial where she meets her would-be boyfriend, Ken. He is also Chinese American and aspiring to be in the entertainment industry. Another day, she goes to a casting for a remake M. Butterfly and she gets the lead role. The filming location is Beijing and her family's #1 rule is to never step foot in Beijing. As for the reason behind this rule, she doesn't know...yet. For her career, she decides to break her family's rule and goes to Beijing to start filming. When she lands in Beijing, she is met with a crowd of "her fans". Later, she finds out that she looks nearly identical to Alyssa Chua, a famous Chinese socialite, and she has no idea why.
Something that I liked in this book was that I could somewhat relate to Gemma. I am Asian American as well. When I was younger, I dealt with the feelings of not being "Asian enough" or not being "American enough", just like Gemma. In the book, Gemma mentions that she would get asked the question, "Have you been to China?". This question reminded me of when I was younger and when I would get asked this question or similar questions. *mini rant* I hate this question and get pissed when people ask this. This question just brings back so many bad memories. I don't know why people ask this. Just because someone is of an ethnicity or a nationality does not mean that he/she has been there or was even born there. To answer the question: No, I haven't been to China and I'm not even Chinese. Sorry, back to the review.
Another thing that I liked was the inclusion of China's history. In this book, the Cultural Revolution, Tiananmen Massacre, and Empress Wu Zetian were brought up and explained pretty well (in my opinion), but I may be wrong because I'm not much of a history person. Empress Wu Zetian is a person that is pertinent to the story. The book describes her as the only female ruler/regent of China, which is true, but she is also known as Emperor Wu Zetian.
The last things I like (before we get into everything I didn't like) are the topics that were brought up, like racism, stereotypes, peoples' views, LGBTQ+ rights, etc... There is a Lesbian couple (love the diversity).
This book is very predictable and boring. This took me forever to read. I even considered to DNF it. The synopsis of the book practically gives away the ending. The ending (for me) was cringy.
“Its the not the Destination, It's the journey.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Right? Well, the journey wasn't so great either. There isn't really much of a plot. Sometimes, Gemma is concerned about her acting career. One day, she is concerned about her family and finding her identity. Another day, she is just in her hotel room eating ice cream.
I didn't like the use of Dramatic Irony. It started to get old and boring. I was just waiting for Gemma to finally figure it out or for someone to tell her.
I didn't really care about the characters. They are so boring, annoying, and dramatic.
If a book is this bad, probably the romance can save it, right? Well, with this book it didn't. The romance was so predictable and cringy. It was the classic "out with the old and in with the new".
ARC received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 25, 2020
2.5 Stars rounded up to 3 Stars because 2 felt a bit on the low side.
CW:
Well that was a light-hearted and entertaining YA story about family.
Whilst this was totally formulaic it still had a certain charm to it. The story was cleverly woven around elements of Chinese history. It's a bit odd that the big reveal for the character is something we as Readers know up front. I don't think the author was going for dramatic irony, so it was just a bit ho-hum waiting for the main character to catch up with information we got in the title! There was a bit of female snark in there which resolves itself nicely. The romance was a bit forced, and in my opinion unnecessary, as the focus of this story was the family mystery and Gemma finding her voice as an actress. Just okay for me.
CW:
Well that was a light-hearted and entertaining YA story about family.
Whilst this was totally formulaic it still had a certain charm to it. The story was cleverly woven around elements of Chinese history. It's a bit odd that the big reveal for the character is something we as Readers know up front. I don't think the author was going for dramatic irony, so it was just a bit ho-hum waiting for the main character to catch up with information we got in the title! There was a bit of female snark in there which resolves itself nicely. The romance was a bit forced, and in my opinion unnecessary, as the focus of this story was the family mystery and Gemma finding her voice as an actress. Just okay for me.
December 1, 2020
I'll edit in my full review closer to the actual publication date, but I will say that this was a fun read that should definitely be on your radar and perhaps even something to preorder.
--
Shoutout to Amulet Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley.
The first twenty percent of this book I was enjoying myself, but not fully convinced that it was going to give me the vibes I had assumed I was going to get based off of the synopsis. I have to say that once they story was firmly in Beijing I was far more invested and the vibes that I had thought I was going to get started to really shine through the text.
I appreciated Gemma’s connection to her parents back home, but also her desire to find out why it was that her mother never wanted to go to Beijing. I appreciated getting to see Gemma discovering more about her parents and all of the messy situations being in Beijing brought her. Even her dynamic with Eric was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be based solely on their first interaction.
The only real low point for me was how little the movie became after that first meeting with Eric. It started to feel like Gemma’s passion as an actress and that whole subplot was more a vehicle to execute this particular family reconnection story than something that was really important. Which might not even be the correct phrasing seeing as how important it was in shaping Gemma’s outlook in regards to her family life. Whatever the phrasing it did feel neglected for essentially the entire middle portion of the book only to come back into play late in the third act for a moment that didn’t quick click as believable even if it was for a character moment that felt earned.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it delivered on all the things I thought I was being promised by the synopsis and what I enjoy in a contemporary read. I look forward to continuing on with the series and I appreciate how this first book managed to still tell a complete story while getting me invested enough in the characters to see where they go from here.
--
Shoutout to Amulet Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley.
The first twenty percent of this book I was enjoying myself, but not fully convinced that it was going to give me the vibes I had assumed I was going to get based off of the synopsis. I have to say that once they story was firmly in Beijing I was far more invested and the vibes that I had thought I was going to get started to really shine through the text.
I appreciated Gemma’s connection to her parents back home, but also her desire to find out why it was that her mother never wanted to go to Beijing. I appreciated getting to see Gemma discovering more about her parents and all of the messy situations being in Beijing brought her. Even her dynamic with Eric was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be based solely on their first interaction.
The only real low point for me was how little the movie became after that first meeting with Eric. It started to feel like Gemma’s passion as an actress and that whole subplot was more a vehicle to execute this particular family reconnection story than something that was really important. Which might not even be the correct phrasing seeing as how important it was in shaping Gemma’s outlook in regards to her family life. Whatever the phrasing it did feel neglected for essentially the entire middle portion of the book only to come back into play late in the third act for a moment that didn’t quick click as believable even if it was for a character moment that felt earned.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it delivered on all the things I thought I was being promised by the synopsis and what I enjoy in a contemporary read. I look forward to continuing on with the series and I appreciate how this first book managed to still tell a complete story while getting me invested enough in the characters to see where they go from here.
May 5, 2021
“Let people think my cooking is magic,” she says.
I always respond in the same way. “You are magic, Ma.”
i really loved this quote, but this book was so mediocre. i'm not sorry.
you'd think that all of the chinese-american books i've been reading recently would be getting 5-stars! alas, that is not true at all (except for my fav: The Iron Will of Genie Lo. best series ever please go read it) (funnily enough, it's by the same publisher!).
also! this premise was literally so cool! adventures in china & being the descendant of royalty? hell yeah! but no. also the fact that she was a descendant of royalty was used as a plot twist at like 90% when I KNEW ALL ALONG? :(
i discussed this more thoroughly in my my review of American Panda, an ov taiwanese-am novel, but basically: i want more casual rep that's about HOME and LOVE and COMFORT but obviously a lot of novels are going to have like. tons of racism. and that's kinda tiring!
this novel, in particular, felt very... performative in its rep, but also its discussion of race and marginalization. I don't want to invalidate the author's identity, because this is an ownvoices novel, but oh my god there were so!! many!! references!! to!! race!! within the first 12% of the novel. (i mean this in a negative way)
let me give you a couple of examples:
“I’m not trying to perpetuate any nerdy Asian guy stereotypes,” I warn my roommates, “but this guy just happens to be nerdy and Asian.”
I don’t want Camille to think that all Asian guys are nerds.
i'm sorry, but what?? if you have GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL ALREADY in what world do you need to explain to your white friends that not all Asian guys are nerds?
Camille should get some credit for being the only white person in our little friend group.
what??? what are you doing?? this sounds so. weird. whenever I'm hanging out with white people I'm not about to be like "haha you should get some credit for being one of the only white people here" like it just rubbed me wrong. and felt performative in a way that's really just not relatable at all.
maybe if this was middle-grade, it would be fine & feel maybe more normal, but for a young adult novel I just felt really frustrated. I think that the representation becomes a lot better once Gemma, our main character, reaches China— there were a couple of scenes about family that were SO WHOLESOME and made me really happy!!— but i think that certain Aspects of how Gemma talked about her identity really undermined the more intrinsic aspects of the representation that was covered.
for the first half, Gemma literally had no (no) personality except for the fact that she's Chinese...
and to continue with how this novel was performative, Gemma & other characters would literally spout off tirades that sounded like attempts at being woke. it felt so forced! there would just be little sections where they're like "yah pre-westernized China used to be accepting of lgbtq+ people" and "scarlett johansson can easily get asian roles" but there weren't any REAL discussions about it?
honestly, it just felt like a personal rant, and i mean these takes are not wrong, but again. it didn't seem natural, or really all that nuanced. just in general, too “on the nose” and direct for my taste :/
i would also like to acknowledge a little quote at 4%:
She’s part Japanese, part Samoan, part white, and all big swoon-worthy muscled tallness with a sexy deep voice and acid humor. Everyone I know has at least a little crush on her. Me included...
On a sexuality scale, I’m mostly straight with definitely not-straight leanings, and Camille is probably the same. For me, that just means “I’m into guys, but girls like Glory get me all hot and bothered too.” After all, I’m not dead. Not when it comes to Glory.
HELLO we love to see it! however, this is literally the only mention of her sexuality ever. throughout the entire book. after a small reference 4% in. this honestly just felt like it was there to BE there, you know? i went ahead and read a couple of other reviews and literally no one mentioned this part of her identity, which really makes you ponder about how clear it was.
anyways, to conclude, there were also other terrible aspects of this book:
- pacing overall
- the characters (vv static & uninteresting)
- the fact that mc calls a character sexy at 1% of the book. did you know that that actually makes them inherently un-sexy?
- just. kinda boring.
- gemma, please get some hobbies besides talking about how you're chinese-american
one of the cool things though was learning a little more about the cultural revolution! i want to learn more about chinese history :')
(can you believe i was debating between 3-4 stars at first. after starting this review i realized... this does not deserve 3 stars)
>> rep includes chinese-american & mga mc (Gemma), sapphic side couple, biracial (Japanese, white, Samoan) side character (Glory)
>> content warnings for racism, esp as an east asian american; straight-washing; homophobia; mentions of death
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this was a FUN read but i also feel like it relied Very Heavily on being asian to establish the identities of the characters... like pls have personality beyond the fact that you are chinese... i'm begging you
💫 undecided rating (prob 3-4 stars?) & review to come !!
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[pre-review]
r u telling me that this is about descendants of chinese royalty & yet i haven't heard of it until now ???
July 13, 2021
I ACTUALLY FINISHED AN ENTIRE BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A MONTH LOOK AT ME GO
November 24, 2024
i was so excited about this book and i even bought it! but it was terrible! the writing felt like a 10 year olds work and there was no good plot? the dialogue was SO cringy and even the "shocking twists" were like completely easy to see coming! i read this so slow because it was so boring and ugh! anyway i wouldn't recommend!!!
•---------•
tw's; raceism, lgtbq+, celebrity stalking/mobs (?)
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tw's; raceism, lgtbq+, celebrity stalking/mobs (?)
•---------•
October 12, 2021
3.5 🌸
Sorprendente, entretenido e interesante; la ambientación y el tema de la identidad me ha gustado mucho.
Sorprendente, entretenido e interesante; la ambientación y el tema de la identidad me ha gustado mucho.
November 16, 2020
Gemma is cast as the female lead in a movie that she thinks is a romcom, but she finds herself in cahoots with the female director to hijack the film and flip some common stereotypes and gender norms. That is not the book I was expecting to read. I was looking forward to a romcom with an American-born Chinese girl discovering her secret Beijing family. They mystery of how Gemma's mother became estranged from her family was plenty of story for me. The movie set dilemma was confusing alongside the missing painting and multiple family dramas already happening. I am rounding up from a 2.5 due to the CRA elements, but don't really think I want to continue with the series.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2021
Heiress Apparently is SO much fun!! It has a great balance of silly and serious that I loved, and, I don't know, I went into this with an open mind, let the book sweep me away, and I really enjoyed it.
- Follows Gemma, an aspiring Asian-American actor who lands the role of a lifetime. The problem: her mother has forbidden her from going to Beijing (even though she doesn't know why), where filming will take place. At Beijing, Gemma discovers that she has an uncanny likeness to social media superstar - and that their histories may be intertwined.
- If you love stories about family secrets like I do, then this is a great book. This story delves into the mystery of Gemma's family and mother, and I was really engaged, wanting to know what happened next and what the secrets were.
- The story also delves into the Tiananmen Square massacre and protests, in a way I've never seen in fiction, but how the aftermath had very significant and real implications for Chinese people in the past and today.
- It explores Asian representation in American cinema, and how Asian roles lean into offensive and stereotypical caricatures. I liked how this exploration intertwines with Gemma's growth as a character while also portraying how challenging it can be to push back because of power dynamics.
- The romance was actually really sweet! There's a bit of a love triangle, but it was done in a really thoughtful way.
- Honestly, a really solid contemporary read with a mix of fluffiness, serious and thoughtful moments, and family.
Content warning: discussions of the Tiananmen massacre, anti-gay rhetoric (challenged)
- Follows Gemma, an aspiring Asian-American actor who lands the role of a lifetime. The problem: her mother has forbidden her from going to Beijing (even though she doesn't know why), where filming will take place. At Beijing, Gemma discovers that she has an uncanny likeness to social media superstar - and that their histories may be intertwined.
- If you love stories about family secrets like I do, then this is a great book. This story delves into the mystery of Gemma's family and mother, and I was really engaged, wanting to know what happened next and what the secrets were.
- The story also delves into the Tiananmen Square massacre and protests, in a way I've never seen in fiction, but how the aftermath had very significant and real implications for Chinese people in the past and today.
- It explores Asian representation in American cinema, and how Asian roles lean into offensive and stereotypical caricatures. I liked how this exploration intertwines with Gemma's growth as a character while also portraying how challenging it can be to push back because of power dynamics.
- The romance was actually really sweet! There's a bit of a love triangle, but it was done in a really thoughtful way.
- Honestly, a really solid contemporary read with a mix of fluffiness, serious and thoughtful moments, and family.
Content warning: discussions of the Tiananmen massacre, anti-gay rhetoric (challenged)
August 17, 2024
This was so fun! Loved the whole Princess Diaries thing! Definitely a recommendation if you like YA genre.
December 4, 2020
I went into Heiress Apparently expecting a fun romp through Hollywood and Beijing with some royalty mixed in. What I got? A fun romp through Hollywood and Beijing with some royalty mixed in but also a brutal take down of how the film industry treats Asian actors and actresses, a shocking look at how certain historical events (such as the Tienanmen Square massacre) are portrayed in China as opposed to the rest of the world, so much cultural history and women's history, a look at China's views on LGBT individuals and rights. I tore through this book cheering every second of the way and can't wait for the sequel!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
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December 24, 2023DNF’d by Pg. 115. Just couldn’t get into the story.
November 18, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: homophobia (which is challenged in the book)
Heiress Apparently hit me when I was in the mood for a fun contemporary. And while I definitely think this book was entertaining and charming, but it also sheds light on the difficulties of representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood. Gemma wants to break into acting, despite her lack of parental support, and she deals with casting calls that type cast her - before she even steps in the room - and having to decide if she should take certain roles which may perpetuate stereotypes.
It's a question that other actors do not have to consider. Throughout Heiress Apparently Gemma has to make the tough decisions of whether to speak up about the representation and whether she should just say nothing because of her big role. Representation can change someone's life. The validation and possibilities when we see a figure like us on the screens. But in cinematic history there's been plenty of misrepresentation, as well as problematic role models.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
TW: homophobia (which is challenged in the book)
Heiress Apparently hit me when I was in the mood for a fun contemporary. And while I definitely think this book was entertaining and charming, but it also sheds light on the difficulties of representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood. Gemma wants to break into acting, despite her lack of parental support, and she deals with casting calls that type cast her - before she even steps in the room - and having to decide if she should take certain roles which may perpetuate stereotypes.
It's a question that other actors do not have to consider. Throughout Heiress Apparently Gemma has to make the tough decisions of whether to speak up about the representation and whether she should just say nothing because of her big role. Representation can change someone's life. The validation and possibilities when we see a figure like us on the screens. But in cinematic history there's been plenty of misrepresentation, as well as problematic role models.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
May 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and thought it gave such good representation of Chinese culture and their history!!!
October 30, 2021
Esperaba disfrutarlo, pero aun así ha sido una grata sorpresa: ligero, pero muy entretenido, con drama, giros argumentales, viajes, personajes que evolucionan y secretos familiares. Aunque la trama pueda parecer de esas que ya hemos visto mil veces, de una protagonista que descubre el pasado secreto de su familia y cómo esto pasa a cambiarle la vida, la magia está siempre en cómo se desarrolla todo, y en esta ocasión, no podría haber resultado más entretenido y emocionante.
El drama del secreto, lo que descubre Gemma en China (y las visitas a diferentes lugares de interés, que me han llamado muchísimo la atención), su inseguridad en cuanto a su identidad, y otros temas como el de la familia y la amistad, están perfectamente integrados y me ha encantado cómo se han desarrollado a lo largo de la historia. Por su parte, el romance, si bien no es lo principal, sí resulta adorable, y me habría encantado que se tratase algo más.
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
El drama del secreto, lo que descubre Gemma en China (y las visitas a diferentes lugares de interés, que me han llamado muchísimo la atención), su inseguridad en cuanto a su identidad, y otros temas como el de la familia y la amistad, están perfectamente integrados y me ha encantado cómo se han desarrollado a lo largo de la historia. Por su parte, el romance, si bien no es lo principal, sí resulta adorable, y me habría encantado que se tratase algo más.
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
November 24, 2020
Gemma is an actress struggling to make the rent, when a new job whisks her away to Beijing, and she learns there's more to her family history than she realised.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Huang is a Chinese American who has never been to her parents' homeland of Beijing. They refuse to tell her anything about their lives before they came to America, and Gemma is banned from ever going to Beijing.
Aside from the secrets, Gemma loves her parents and knows how lucky she is to have them. They are both intelligent, in well-paid jobs, and have provided a comfortable life for themselves. They love and support Gemma, even when she wants to postpone college so she can follow her dream of acting.
Gemma goes to live in LA with her friends, and starts to date Ken, a handsome Asian actor she met when they both went for the same toothpaste commercial.
After a few months of struggling to make the rent, everything is looking up when Gemma gets the leading role in the new M. Butterfly remake.
I enjoyed this little book. The romance with Eric was very cute, and the plotlines had a comfortable predictability about them. You kinda knew what would happen, and just sit back and enjoy Gemma's story.
I think the real strength of this book was the representation, with mostly people of colour, and LGBTQ characters and themes.
I loved reading about Gemma's opinions on being a Chinese American, she's made to feel like she doesn't belong in either America or China, despite having a claim to both.
There are many moments for Gemma to reflect upon, when people have been mildly racist without realising it, where they see her ethnicity before they see her.
As an actress, she's passionate about her love of film, but she's resigned to knowing that white Hollywood rarely cast Asian actors. And when they do, they're just perpetuating stereotypes and what they want to believe is real.
Gemma has her idols, women that have made it against the odds, and now it's her turn.
I loved the exploration of LGBTQ in media and history. How it evolved in China, reflecting the way American media was manipulating peoples' ideas.
Gemma identifies as straight, but there are gay and lesbian couples too.
Whilst Gemma is in Beijing, and during shooting in male drag, she gets to experiment with gender roles.
I'm not sure where the series is going to go next, as all the storylines came to a close, but I'm intrigued to find out.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Huang is a Chinese American who has never been to her parents' homeland of Beijing. They refuse to tell her anything about their lives before they came to America, and Gemma is banned from ever going to Beijing.
Aside from the secrets, Gemma loves her parents and knows how lucky she is to have them. They are both intelligent, in well-paid jobs, and have provided a comfortable life for themselves. They love and support Gemma, even when she wants to postpone college so she can follow her dream of acting.
Gemma goes to live in LA with her friends, and starts to date Ken, a handsome Asian actor she met when they both went for the same toothpaste commercial.
After a few months of struggling to make the rent, everything is looking up when Gemma gets the leading role in the new M. Butterfly remake.
I enjoyed this little book. The romance with Eric was very cute, and the plotlines had a comfortable predictability about them. You kinda knew what would happen, and just sit back and enjoy Gemma's story.
I think the real strength of this book was the representation, with mostly people of colour, and LGBTQ characters and themes.
I loved reading about Gemma's opinions on being a Chinese American, she's made to feel like she doesn't belong in either America or China, despite having a claim to both.
There are many moments for Gemma to reflect upon, when people have been mildly racist without realising it, where they see her ethnicity before they see her.
As an actress, she's passionate about her love of film, but she's resigned to knowing that white Hollywood rarely cast Asian actors. And when they do, they're just perpetuating stereotypes and what they want to believe is real.
Gemma has her idols, women that have made it against the odds, and now it's her turn.
I loved the exploration of LGBTQ in media and history. How it evolved in China, reflecting the way American media was manipulating peoples' ideas.
Gemma identifies as straight, but there are gay and lesbian couples too.
Whilst Gemma is in Beijing, and during shooting in male drag, she gets to experiment with gender roles.
I'm not sure where the series is going to go next, as all the storylines came to a close, but I'm intrigued to find out.
November 24, 2020
Against her parent's wishes, Gemma elected to take a gap year to chase her dreams of an acting career. Her big break came via a starring role in a remake of M. Butterfly. The only problem was that filming would take place in Beijing, her very own forbidden city per her parents' orders. Mistaken identity brought her into contact with young Chinese socialite, who held the keys to Gemma's family secrets.
This was different from what I expected, but in a good way, as it had a lot more substance than I anticipated. Here are five things I really enjoyed as I read HEIRESS APPARENTLY:
1. Gemma was a great character. I was so excited to her, when she won her role, and I was really proud of the way she grew over the course of the story. She also had a great voice and view of things, and I enjoyed her narration.
2. Visiting Beijing was fantastic! Getting to China is a bucket list item for me (and really far out of reach), and therefore, I was delighted to take a trip there with Gemma. Ma helped me take in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Beijing, and I really reveled in it.
3. The book had substance. I love a fun book, but I like there to be some depth too. I thought it was brilliant to use the making of the film as a way to challenge Asian stereotypes. Ma also worked in some of the issues faced by the people of China, as well as some of their history.
4. The romance was wonderful. I loved who Ma selected as Gemma's partner. He was deceptively sweet, and I thought he brought out the best in her. He encouraged her often and supported her, when she needed him most.
5. Loved the delicious family drama. I liked the movie stuff, seeing Beijing, and the meet cute, but the story really started picking up for me as it delved into Gemma's family's past. I was so curious to dig up those secrets and thought it all played out in a great way.
Overall: A solid start to a new series I look forward to continuing.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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This was different from what I expected, but in a good way, as it had a lot more substance than I anticipated. Here are five things I really enjoyed as I read HEIRESS APPARENTLY:
1. Gemma was a great character. I was so excited to her, when she won her role, and I was really proud of the way she grew over the course of the story. She also had a great voice and view of things, and I enjoyed her narration.
2. Visiting Beijing was fantastic! Getting to China is a bucket list item for me (and really far out of reach), and therefore, I was delighted to take a trip there with Gemma. Ma helped me take in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Beijing, and I really reveled in it.
3. The book had substance. I love a fun book, but I like there to be some depth too. I thought it was brilliant to use the making of the film as a way to challenge Asian stereotypes. Ma also worked in some of the issues faced by the people of China, as well as some of their history.
4. The romance was wonderful. I loved who Ma selected as Gemma's partner. He was deceptively sweet, and I thought he brought out the best in her. He encouraged her often and supported her, when she needed him most.
5. Loved the delicious family drama. I liked the movie stuff, seeing Beijing, and the meet cute, but the story really started picking up for me as it delved into Gemma's family's past. I was so curious to dig up those secrets and thought it all played out in a great way.
Overall: A solid start to a new series I look forward to continuing.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 9, 2020
4 stars!
This was highly entertaining, fun, past paced and very light hearted.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heiress Apparently follows Gemma Huang on a journey that takes her from living in LA with 3 roommates in a 2 bedroom apartment to her getting the lead role in a movie shooting in Beijing to her finally finding out why her parents are always so mysterious of their past. This is a whirlwind from the start and it quickly becomes addictive.
I believe going into this without knowing much about it is the best way to do it. Let yourself be surprised and let yourself try to assemble the pieces of this story. This is a fast paced entertaining read that will make you feel as if you're watching a happy film.
There are some really incredible historical parts in this book that provide authenticity to the story and just overall allow for the reader to learn more about China as a country and its culture.
It is a sweet read about love, betrayal, family secrets and hope. For anyone in need of a pick me up, this is definitely it.
This was highly entertaining, fun, past paced and very light hearted.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heiress Apparently follows Gemma Huang on a journey that takes her from living in LA with 3 roommates in a 2 bedroom apartment to her getting the lead role in a movie shooting in Beijing to her finally finding out why her parents are always so mysterious of their past. This is a whirlwind from the start and it quickly becomes addictive.
I believe going into this without knowing much about it is the best way to do it. Let yourself be surprised and let yourself try to assemble the pieces of this story. This is a fast paced entertaining read that will make you feel as if you're watching a happy film.
There are some really incredible historical parts in this book that provide authenticity to the story and just overall allow for the reader to learn more about China as a country and its culture.
It is a sweet read about love, betrayal, family secrets and hope. For anyone in need of a pick me up, this is definitely it.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 16, 2020
Enjoyable but I felt like it tackled too much and left a lot more questions unanswered than it could have. I actually enjoyed the romance aspect though, and the found family portion...although it felt that the parts that were lacking was the part I was most interested in—the history and the movie!
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
April 3, 2021
Growing up in a Chinese American family, Gemma has always preferred to be a bit of a rebel daughter. Her mother is a Museum Director and her dad a Professor. Gemma wishes to take a year off and try her hand at acting in LA. What will happen though when Gemma is given a chance of a lifetime to star in a new film and gets the lead role as well? She agrees but will discover something that doesn't play in her favor - the filming is in Beijing, China. Growing up, Gemma's mum always warned her to stay well away from Beijing and that stepping foot in the city was forbidden. With the help of her roommates back home in LA, she lies to her parents and tells them she is filming in Nebraska, etc. When Gemma arrives in Beijing though, she is immediately accosted by paparazzi and people screaming at her. She later discovers that a Beijing socialite Alyssa Chua looks identical to her and could be her twin sister. As the book goes along, we learn that family secrets were kept hidden from Gemma about her mother's side of the family and the real reasons that Gemma was to never step foot into Beijing. It was interesting reading this book as I learned a bit from the author as I have not read any books set within the Asian culture and it shows how far the world has come in perceptions as of course gay marriage, gender-bending, etc has become so acceptable in Chinese culture. We also saw however the opposite end of the scale where despite progressing in a lot of parts, China's media, etc is still very much controlled as Gemma calls it in this book "The Great Firewall of China" when she keeps getting errors and 404 messages on Google searches. I found myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would and I think a huge part was the whole doppelganger trope as that is one of my top ten tropes to read about. The other thing I did enjoy was that even though it was fictionalized was learning about parts of the Chinese History and culture from the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre to the Communist Party and Labour camps also during this time and before. If you love books with doppelgangers, secrets, and history - then check out Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma today.
December 12, 2021
Pese a la decepción de sus padres, Gemma, se ha mudado a Los Ángeles para emprender su carrera de actriz 🎭aunque ellos piensan que es un año sabático y que volverá para ir el próximo año a la universidad. Estando allí conocerá a Ken, un chico con el compite para un casting, pero ambos se sienten muy atraídos 💕 y tienen una relación.
Surgirá casting para la obra Butterfly 🦋 una versión actualizada de M. Butterfly y Gemma sea la escogida, no dudará en romper la promesa a sus padres, ya que el trabajo es en Pekin 🇨🇳 y ellos no quieren bajo ningún concepto que vaya allí. Una vez llegue la confundirán con Alyssa, una chica muy famosa 😏 con la que descubrirá que son primas y que su madre fue repudiada por algo que no le deja claro. Gemma se intrigará, sobre todo cuando conozca a Eric con el que surgirá una conexión muy especial ❤️ y él también le hablará sobre el secreto que esconde su madre y le ayudará a poder esclarecer qué es lo que sucedió.
La narración de la autora es espectacular porque te sitúa muy bien en todos los sitios y te va contando mucha historia con detalles 👌🏻 así que ha hecho una conexión de tramas magnífica. Nos ha encantado, ya que es una novela muy adictiva, intrigante y divertida 💗 Tenéis la reseña completa en el blog ✏️
Surgirá casting para la obra Butterfly 🦋 una versión actualizada de M. Butterfly y Gemma sea la escogida, no dudará en romper la promesa a sus padres, ya que el trabajo es en Pekin 🇨🇳 y ellos no quieren bajo ningún concepto que vaya allí. Una vez llegue la confundirán con Alyssa, una chica muy famosa 😏 con la que descubrirá que son primas y que su madre fue repudiada por algo que no le deja claro. Gemma se intrigará, sobre todo cuando conozca a Eric con el que surgirá una conexión muy especial ❤️ y él también le hablará sobre el secreto que esconde su madre y le ayudará a poder esclarecer qué es lo que sucedió.
La narración de la autora es espectacular porque te sitúa muy bien en todos los sitios y te va contando mucha historia con detalles 👌🏻 así que ha hecho una conexión de tramas magnífica. Nos ha encantado, ya que es una novela muy adictiva, intrigante y divertida 💗 Tenéis la reseña completa en el blog ✏️
December 15, 2020
Okay, I have THOUGHTS. Let me just first say that I had the best of intentions going into this one. The premise sounded cool (going to Beijing to film a movie and finding out you look like a famous person?!) and I am ALL about more fun Chinese American stories in YA literature. However ... this was a flop for me. (Please, Diana Ma, do not read this!!! I feel bad about writing it already ... but I just need to verbalize my feelings somewhere 😩) Also, I recognize that this is a book written for teens and I am not one. For any reviews from Asian teens I come across, I will add links here.
1. CLASSIC CASE OF TELLING, NOT SHOWING ... Yes, I want to know there were sparks between you and your love interest, but I want to SEE THEM too. When I can experience this alongside a character (the emotional connection, the feelings, the yearning, etc.), it adds to my level of investment and joy. I did not feel this with any of the "romantic" elements in Heiress Apparently. The insta-love was *so* bad—and usually, I don't mind this trope! IF I can see the chemistry. I don't care if he looks like Simu Liu and looks like a snack in a suit—GIVE ME GOOD BANTER AND CONVERSATION!!!
I also felt like all the Chinese history parts were presented in such a random way. There was a lot of it brought up towards the beginning of the book, when we don't know how it all connects to Gemma, so it was just ... a lot of info-dump. I know that it was intended to set up the mystery of ~why her parents don't want her to step foot in China~ but it was so out-of-place that I knew exactly the reason as soon as all this information dropped. And then Gemma spends the entire story trying to figure out this big secret while everyone dodges her questions, so it's not fun. I think it would've been much more interesting if she encountered some truths right away and confronted her parents about it. Then they could have a discussion of sorts ... Anyway, at least I figured out that one of my biggest pet peeves in books is when the plot moves from person to person saying, "It's a secret, I can't tell you ......." It just makes no sense to write in circles like this.
2. I *really* didn't like the way Gemma's white roommate, Camille, was written. First of all, there's not much that's said or described about her. But every single time Camille was brought up in conversation or thought, Gemma always had some back-handed comment or criticism about her, specifically as a white person. Ex: Their other roommate (part Japanese, part Samoan, part white) talks about a past girlfriend (who happened to be white) who secretly went around her apartment collecting her hair (which, by the way, truly what the heck?) Gemma responds with, "I do not understand white people's obsession with Asian women's hair," then looks at Camille and says, "No offense." And Camille says, "None taken ... On behalf of my people, I apologize." ???????
Another example: "Once Camille catches her breath, she asks, "Is Taiwan where your parents are from?" This is the kind of "where are you from" question that I don't mind. Camille's not asking because my Asianness makes me foreign in her eyes—she's just a new friend who genuinely wants to get to know me." I felt like Camille was written as a character to tell white readers, "Look—this is what you should and should not say to Asian people." And it just rubbed me the wrong way. Does it need to be spelled out this way, like, "This is right because ______ and this is wrong because _____"? I think the worst part about it is the fact that there is NO REASON to hate Camille. We literally don't know anything about her!!! I mean, it would be different if Camille was racist and rude to Gemma, but she's not.
One more: "And I don't want Camille to give me a knowing look and mentally file the information away in a "Gemma's tiger mom" file. I'm probably being unfair to her. Camille should get some credit for being the only white person in our little friend group."
3. The movie. Gemma is chosen to play the main character in this Americanized(?) version of M. Butterfly, which a distinguished Chinese actress (Eilene Deng) is co-directing. Basically, Eilene wants Gemma to help her change up the movie to play less on Asian stereotypes. Sounds good, right? But tell me why the making of this movie felt like a high school group project 💀 Do actors/actresses have this kind of power??? Like the way Gemma, a new actress, can make all these suggestions while they're filming? This was interesting though—when she brought it up to her boyfriend, he thought Eilene was using Gemma to "prop up her career." But Gemma believed Eilene wanted her to learn to fight for herself.
I know it sounds like I despised this book, but there were some good things ... it's just that I feel way more passionately about the things that bothered me lol. It was a good concept, but it was trying to do a lot of big things all at once (the romance with a boy she just met, her mom's secret, making the movie, etc.) and it fell flat.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for accepting my request to read and review an early copy of Heiress Apparently.
1. CLASSIC CASE OF TELLING, NOT SHOWING ... Yes, I want to know there were sparks between you and your love interest, but I want to SEE THEM too. When I can experience this alongside a character (the emotional connection, the feelings, the yearning, etc.), it adds to my level of investment and joy. I did not feel this with any of the "romantic" elements in Heiress Apparently. The insta-love was *so* bad—and usually, I don't mind this trope! IF I can see the chemistry. I don't care if he looks like Simu Liu and looks like a snack in a suit—GIVE ME GOOD BANTER AND CONVERSATION!!!
I also felt like all the Chinese history parts were presented in such a random way. There was a lot of it brought up towards the beginning of the book, when we don't know how it all connects to Gemma, so it was just ... a lot of info-dump. I know that it was intended to set up the mystery of ~why her parents don't want her to step foot in China~ but it was so out-of-place that I knew exactly the reason as soon as all this information dropped. And then Gemma spends the entire story trying to figure out this big secret while everyone dodges her questions, so it's not fun. I think it would've been much more interesting if she encountered some truths right away and confronted her parents about it. Then they could have a discussion of sorts ... Anyway, at least I figured out that one of my biggest pet peeves in books is when the plot moves from person to person saying, "It's a secret, I can't tell you ......." It just makes no sense to write in circles like this.
2. I *really* didn't like the way Gemma's white roommate, Camille, was written. First of all, there's not much that's said or described about her. But every single time Camille was brought up in conversation or thought, Gemma always had some back-handed comment or criticism about her, specifically as a white person. Ex: Their other roommate (part Japanese, part Samoan, part white) talks about a past girlfriend (who happened to be white) who secretly went around her apartment collecting her hair (which, by the way, truly what the heck?) Gemma responds with, "I do not understand white people's obsession with Asian women's hair," then looks at Camille and says, "No offense." And Camille says, "None taken ... On behalf of my people, I apologize." ???????
Another example: "Once Camille catches her breath, she asks, "Is Taiwan where your parents are from?" This is the kind of "where are you from" question that I don't mind. Camille's not asking because my Asianness makes me foreign in her eyes—she's just a new friend who genuinely wants to get to know me." I felt like Camille was written as a character to tell white readers, "Look—this is what you should and should not say to Asian people." And it just rubbed me the wrong way. Does it need to be spelled out this way, like, "This is right because ______ and this is wrong because _____"? I think the worst part about it is the fact that there is NO REASON to hate Camille. We literally don't know anything about her!!! I mean, it would be different if Camille was racist and rude to Gemma, but she's not.
One more: "And I don't want Camille to give me a knowing look and mentally file the information away in a "Gemma's tiger mom" file. I'm probably being unfair to her. Camille should get some credit for being the only white person in our little friend group."
3. The movie. Gemma is chosen to play the main character in this Americanized(?) version of M. Butterfly, which a distinguished Chinese actress (Eilene Deng) is co-directing. Basically, Eilene wants Gemma to help her change up the movie to play less on Asian stereotypes. Sounds good, right? But tell me why the making of this movie felt like a high school group project 💀 Do actors/actresses have this kind of power??? Like the way Gemma, a new actress, can make all these suggestions while they're filming? This was interesting though—when she brought it up to her boyfriend, he thought Eilene was using Gemma to "prop up her career." But Gemma believed Eilene wanted her to learn to fight for herself.
I know it sounds like I despised this book, but there were some good things ... it's just that I feel way more passionately about the things that bothered me lol. It was a good concept, but it was trying to do a lot of big things all at once (the romance with a boy she just met, her mom's secret, making the movie, etc.) and it fell flat.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for accepting my request to read and review an early copy of Heiress Apparently.
April 30, 2021
That ending was just way too happy. I have trouble believing that everything would resolve itself so well. It was nice to see supportive Asia parents for once though.
Read
November 28, 2020This was super fun - kind of Princess Diaries meets Loveboat, Taipei meets a Mary Kate and Ashley movie. It's a light and fast paced story that does cover some weighty and serious topics.
Gemma is a struggling actress who suddenly gets the chance to star in a remake of Madame Butterfly that's taping in Beijing. She says yes immediately, even though her family disapproves. They left China decades ago and have never returned.
So this book had two plots: the movie plot, in which Gemma struggles with some of the Asian stereotypes that she's asked to play out in the film, and the family plot, in which Gemma discovers her family history in China. The two weren't all that connected and maybe could have been two separate books. That, plus a romance and her family relationships, was a lot.
The political history in the book, which mainly spanned the Cultural Revolution (in the 1960s and 70s) to the 1990s, when Gemma's parents left China, was really interesting, as were the author's insights about Asian stereotypes in popular culture.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Gemma is a struggling actress who suddenly gets the chance to star in a remake of Madame Butterfly that's taping in Beijing. She says yes immediately, even though her family disapproves. They left China decades ago and have never returned.
So this book had two plots: the movie plot, in which Gemma struggles with some of the Asian stereotypes that she's asked to play out in the film, and the family plot, in which Gemma discovers her family history in China. The two weren't all that connected and maybe could have been two separate books. That, plus a romance and her family relationships, was a lot.
The political history in the book, which mainly spanned the Cultural Revolution (in the 1960s and 70s) to the 1990s, when Gemma's parents left China, was really interesting, as were the author's insights about Asian stereotypes in popular culture.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
January 28, 2021
Heiress Apparently hit me when I was in the mood for a fun contemporary
It's a question that other actors do not have to consider. Throughout Heiress Apparently Gemma has to make the tough decisions of whether to speak up about the representation and whether she should just say nothing because of her big role.
But in cinematic history, there's been plenty of misrepresentation, as well as problematic role models.
This was highly entertaining, fun, fast paced and very light-hearted
It is a sweet read about love, betrayal, family secrets and hope. For anyone in need of a pick me up, this is definitely it.
It's a question that other actors do not have to consider. Throughout Heiress Apparently Gemma has to make the tough decisions of whether to speak up about the representation and whether she should just say nothing because of her big role.
But in cinematic history, there's been plenty of misrepresentation, as well as problematic role models.
This was highly entertaining, fun, fast paced and very light-hearted
It is a sweet read about love, betrayal, family secrets and hope. For anyone in need of a pick me up, this is definitely it.
July 16, 2023
she fell right into the best ending.
is it weird thathalf basically all, of the books i enjoy, everyone gives two or three stars? maybe i've just got extremely bad book tastes?! OR IM JUST HELPING EVERY SINGLE UNDERRATED AUTHOR- a classic style, asian american, travelling to the one country her mother told her NOT TO GO because of a movie offer she recieved, and maybe on the way finding love?
“From the moment I met you, you’ve never let me be less than what I can be”
i love love love love love...
eric.
like literally. he's dream boy through and through. scrap, patheticattractive, smoldering ugly little Ken boy, BECAUSE ERIC IS SO MUCH MORE FINER. a genius man in a suit, two years older, teasing you lightly and best of all, HELPS YOU FINISH YOUR FOOD LIST WHEN TRAVELLING TO BEIJING?! i'll take it any day. ANY DAY.
“Your patio has a patio?” I tease her. “That’s a whole new level of fancy.”
i was flustered by the interaction between gemma and alyssa. like they didn't actually have relevance together. it was just there cause they were there. like yes they have similarity, and yes they are secretly cousins and there's a giant backstory behind their relationship, family history and the 'new, hot guy' , but it was just SO IRRELEVANT. like they didn't have a smooth enough conversation or setting except the ending with all the 'jie jie' , 'mei mei' energy. like i get the older sister, youngert sister, i'm connected to you and i missed you all these years, FAMILY LOVE, but it really truly didn't need to be THIS tense. it needed more. i wanted to be a bigger fan, but it stopped at all that tension. AND PLUS, I NEEDED AN EXPLANATION. I WANT AN EXPLANATION OF ALL THE HISTORY AND ALL THE TENSION, WITHOUT BORING ME OUT TOO MUCH. because reading it right now, the strain was kind of awkward with all the 'this happened that happened' without THE ACTUAL EXPLAIN.
"I'll bet the romantic interest is a white man and all the Asian men in that film will be sexless and nerdy or chauvinistic and domineering.”
i found it super interesting to read about the different Asian dominating standards. like, as an Asian myself, i get the whole situation. i truly felt the racism and the stereotypical points in the Asian aspect, which i guess made this book a whole lot better when reading all the Mandarin words that they said to each other, all the little points of Asian statements with studying or dating etc, or just in general the racism that was pulled out. the book stated quite a lot with this whole situation, as in IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED IT WAY TOO MUCH. LIKE TOO MUCH. i'm not suprised if people got extreely sick and almost threw the book onto the wall or gave up because the first pages had too much. BUT IT'S GOOD. IT GETS BETTER.
Overall rating: 3.4/5
Genre: fiction, new young adult, young adult, romance, contemporary, chick lit, rom-com, YA, mystery, LGBTQIA+ (not main)
Dates read: 16/7/2023- 16/7/2023 (1 day)
Time period: 3-4 hrs
Amount of pages: 204 (physical book copy, library borrowed, rectangle, small font, large size book)
Word count: unknown.
is it weird that
“From the moment I met you, you’ve never let me be less than what I can be”
i love love love love love...
eric.
like literally. he's dream boy through and through. scrap, pathetic
“Your patio has a patio?” I tease her. “That’s a whole new level of fancy.”
i was flustered by the interaction between gemma and alyssa. like they didn't actually have relevance together. it was just there cause they were there. like yes they have similarity, and yes they are secretly cousins and there's a giant backstory behind their relationship, family history and the 'new, hot guy' , but it was just SO IRRELEVANT. like they didn't have a smooth enough conversation or setting except the ending with all the 'jie jie' , 'mei mei' energy. like i get the older sister, youngert sister, i'm connected to you and i missed you all these years, FAMILY LOVE, but it really truly didn't need to be THIS tense. it needed more. i wanted to be a bigger fan, but it stopped at all that tension. AND PLUS, I NEEDED AN EXPLANATION. I WANT AN EXPLANATION OF ALL THE HISTORY AND ALL THE TENSION, WITHOUT BORING ME OUT TOO MUCH. because reading it right now, the strain was kind of awkward with all the 'this happened that happened' without THE ACTUAL EXPLAIN.
"I'll bet the romantic interest is a white man and all the Asian men in that film will be sexless and nerdy or chauvinistic and domineering.”
i found it super interesting to read about the different Asian dominating standards. like, as an Asian myself, i get the whole situation. i truly felt the racism and the stereotypical points in the Asian aspect, which i guess made this book a whole lot better when reading all the Mandarin words that they said to each other, all the little points of Asian statements with studying or dating etc, or just in general the racism that was pulled out. the book stated quite a lot with this whole situation, as in IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED IT WAY TOO MUCH. LIKE TOO MUCH. i'm not suprised if people got extreely sick and almost threw the book onto the wall or gave up because the first pages had too much. BUT IT'S GOOD. IT GETS BETTER.
Overall rating: 3.4/5
Genre: fiction, new young adult, young adult, romance, contemporary, chick lit, rom-com, YA, mystery, LGBTQIA+ (not main)
Dates read: 16/7/2023- 16/7/2023 (1 day)
Time period: 3-4 hrs
Amount of pages: 204 (physical book copy, library borrowed, rectangle, small font, large size book)
Word count: unknown.
July 6, 2021
“From the moment I met you, you’ve never let me be less than what I can be."
A cute, fluffy romcom about filming a romcom! When debut actress Gemma gets the role of a lifetime, she flies over to Beijing, despite the fact that her parents have forbidden her to go to China. Once there, she's shocked to discover that she looks identical to the famous socialite, Alyssa Chua. Her romantic misadventures and family discoveries pick up from there as she navigates an entirely different life than the one she is used to.
“Growing up, I wanted to read about Asian American teens who get to have adventure and romance. But books like that weren’t around back then. Gemma’s story isn’t my story. But her story is the one I wanted to read as a kid searching for myself in books.”
I appreciated what this book was trying to do, but felt that some chapters fell flat. Certain scenes were a lot of fun, but the majority of the story was predictable and anticlimactic. The second romance was so sweet, making the first one feel completely unnecessary. The character development came out of nowhere at the end, and it was hard to believe that Gemma was filming a movie because she spent so much time dealing with family drama.
“You have to understand that there’s the Chinese government’s stance and policy, and then there are the actual Chinese people’s views and practices—it would be a mistake to think the two are the same.”
That being said, the dialogue was fun, and the writing fit the relaxed mood of the book perfectly. The main couple had amazing chemistry, even if the side couple didn't. Heiress Apparently was a mixed bag when it came to plot and characters, though it was well written. In general, I would recommend this novel for anyone looking for a cute summer read.
A cute, fluffy romcom about filming a romcom! When debut actress Gemma gets the role of a lifetime, she flies over to Beijing, despite the fact that her parents have forbidden her to go to China. Once there, she's shocked to discover that she looks identical to the famous socialite, Alyssa Chua. Her romantic misadventures and family discoveries pick up from there as she navigates an entirely different life than the one she is used to.
“Growing up, I wanted to read about Asian American teens who get to have adventure and romance. But books like that weren’t around back then. Gemma’s story isn’t my story. But her story is the one I wanted to read as a kid searching for myself in books.”
I appreciated what this book was trying to do, but felt that some chapters fell flat. Certain scenes were a lot of fun, but the majority of the story was predictable and anticlimactic. The second romance was so sweet, making the first one feel completely unnecessary. The character development came out of nowhere at the end, and it was hard to believe that Gemma was filming a movie because she spent so much time dealing with family drama.
“You have to understand that there’s the Chinese government’s stance and policy, and then there are the actual Chinese people’s views and practices—it would be a mistake to think the two are the same.”
That being said, the dialogue was fun, and the writing fit the relaxed mood of the book perfectly. The main couple had amazing chemistry, even if the side couple didn't. Heiress Apparently was a mixed bag when it came to plot and characters, though it was well written. In general, I would recommend this novel for anyone looking for a cute summer read.
May 1, 2021
Book 129 of 2021
This was really cute and fun, with important themes relating to family and Chinese history. I enjoyed it a lot.
Full review to come.
This was really cute and fun, with important themes relating to family and Chinese history. I enjoyed it a lot.
Full review to come.
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