The Girls of Good Fortune - set in Portland in the late 1880s, a young woman of American and Chinese heritage faces many obstacles.

Celia Hart lives in Portland, Oregon. With a Chinese father, she has chosen to use her American mother's maiden name to avoid racism. It's 1888, and Celia awakens in the dark, hidden Shanghai Tunnels she had only heard rumors about. She has been "shanghaied" and is about to be placed on a ship to parts unknown. The story then shifts back to 1885. Celia is working as a maid for the mayor. Her mother has passed away, and her father is working as a miner amid rising anti-Chinese sentiment. Her journey takes unfortunate turns, bringing her into the most dangerous parts of Chinatown, leading to her eventual abduction and struggle to be freed. 

Author Kristina McMorris is known for highly emotional historical fiction and does not disappoint in The Girls of Good Fortune. It is a deeply moving story of a young woman grappling with her sense of identity. Two horrific massacres of Chinese miners ignite a new desire for Celia to connect with her heritage. Trying to survive on her own, Celia encounters people who are both cruel and kind, and it is often hard to determine who she can trust. It's a heavy story worth reading and learning more about the historical events that inspired it. 

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: May 20, 2025.

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