SOLVED. Mass fiction paperback novel set in pre(?) 1997 Hong Kong - read early 2000s - multiple characters: woman dying of AIDS, another woman unlucky in love, multiple POV characters. [s]

[Ky]

I don't remember a lot of details about this novel. The blurb talks about a rich woman maybe in her 30s or 40s who owns a Hong Kong apartment and is dying of AIDS and there are several chapters from her viewpoint. She's not handling her impending death well at all. I don't remember how she got HIV though.

Another woman named Louise/Louisa has a wry outlook on life and is never successful in love (view spoiler)[until a fortuneteller tells her that "a Pig will soon come into your life" and Louise mentally eyerolls and think she's had her fair share of pigs. However a wealthy man who doesn't speak English at all becomes taken with her and asks her out on various dates with an interpreter in tow. (hide spoiler)]

Besides the dying main character and Louise(a), there were other POV characters but I don't remember how many or anything else about them. All their narratives relate to life in 1990s Hong Kong.

I think but am not sure that this was set in Hong Kong prior to 1997. I have a hazy recall that some of the characters were worried about Hong Kong returning to China's control but not sure.

[Ky]

Bump.

[Kris]

Ky, around what year did you read this book? A range of years is fine.

[Ky]

In the early 2000s--I abbreviated that to "early 00s" in the header to save space. Do you think I should edit the header? Probably 2000-2002 to narrow it down just a bit more, and the book didn't seem new then. Maybe it was published 5 to 10 years prior to me reading it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Yes I added that just so no one is confused.

[Ky]

Thanks, Lobstergirl. I would have been happy to edit it myself also and I will keep it in mind for the future.

[Ky]

bump

[Ky]

Found it, finally. It's Jade by Gwen Davis. I'm moving it to Solved.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Ky. Thanks for the update.