The Leftover Woman

A Novel

By: Jean Kwok

Narrated by: Sura Siu, Caroline Hewitt

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Recommended by The New York Times • Elle • Good Morning America • TIME • People • New York Post • Real Simple • Goodreads • LibraryReads • and many more!

An evocative family drama and a riveting mystery about the ferocious pull of motherhood for two very different women—from the New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation.

"Intriguing. . . Kwok is a skilled writer of suspenseful family drama. . . . We root for Jasmine and Rebecca as they face impossible choices and emerge stronger for all the battles they’ve fought, always resisting becoming the ‘leftover’ women.”—Leigh Haber, New York Times Book Review

Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City from her rural Chinese village without money or family support, fleeing a controlling husband, on a desperate search for the daughter who was taken from her at birth—another female casualty of China’s controversial One Child Policy. But with her husband on her trail, the clock is ticking, and she’s forced to make increasingly risky decisions if she ever hopes to be reunited with her daughter.

Meanwhile, publishing executive Rebecca Whitney seems to have it all: a prestigious family name and the wealth that comes with it, a high-powered career, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter she adores. She’s even hired a nanny to help her balance the demands of being a working wife and mother. But when an industry scandal threatens to jeopardize not only Rebecca’s job but her marriage, this perfect world begins to crumble and her role in her own family is called into question.

The Leftover Woman finds these two unforgettable women on a shocking collision course. Twisting and suspenseful and surprisingly poignant, it's a profound exploration of identity and belonging, motherhood and family. It is a story of two women in a divided city—separated by severe economic and cultural differences yet bound by a deep emotional connection to a child.

“A magnetic meditation on secret histories, motherhood, love, and how we show up for each other in the most surprising of ways. A beautiful, propulsive story!”—Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me

"A heart-tugging exploration of love, belonging, and the meaning of family."—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The It Girl

©2023 Jean Kwok (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrators Sura Siu and Caroline Hewitt deliver gripping performances of this suspenseful family drama.... As secrets mount in both families, the narrators dial up the pace and tension.... Listeners will find plenty to root for." (AudioFile)

A great read

Has historical references, suspense, passion. A great story recalling the immigrants from China and those who came illegally and why.

Fear of the unknown

The story was emotional and sometimes heartbreaking. China on the days where only one child was allowed per family. A mothers love so real she will do anything to find her daughter

Wow! This was an interesting, I’ll drive my teenager anywhere so I can listen book

I liked everything, except I got annoyed with Jasmine’s interactions with Anthony. She would get mad easily with him. Honestly that’s my main complaint. Great book!

Wow, was worth my time.

I loved this. I loved the different voice, how the story was woven from two points of view, how the Chinese 1 baby law affected people, how immigrants feel/are made to feel. There were twists, surprises, and the story kept me involved until the very end. The narration was excellent, from both the vocal performers.

Left over women

As an adoptive mother this book made my heart ache. I think it did capture the sense of abandonment that many adoptees have. It encapsulated how naive many western families were when adopting - we believed our daughters were abandoned when many many were actually taken. I remember my daughter first birthday in the states and I was heartbroken thinking of how her biological mother must have been feeling that same day. It did show the love that both the birth mother and the adoptive mother had for their daughter. Poignant book.

A good call for governments to stay out of if citizens bedrooms

this book showed the evils if the new child program and pointed out the need to protect girls from the evils if the child bride programs

Complex story structure to address Chinese adoption

Deals with adoption of Chinese child by white USA parents in an interesting way. More engaging as the story developed. It all comes together at end. A little too stereotypical of all involved. Narration was so so.

Great narration and plot development

Plot development was really fun. Characters were a bit flat. But loved the book none the less.

Great story

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in 2 days. The 2 women who were the main characters were as opposite as can be. One was likable from the start but the other - not so much. I didn't understand their connection at the beginning but it became obvious fairly early on. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys just a "good story."

Excellent

A wonderful story and great reader. I Look forward to reading more from this author.