White Ivy

A Novel

By: Susie Yang

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

“A truly addictive read” (Glamour) about how a young woman’s crush on a privileged former classmate becomes a story of love, lies, and dark obsession, offering stark insights into the immigrant experience, as it hurtles to its electrifying ending in this “twisty, unputdownable, psychological thriller” (People).

Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar - but you’d never know it by looking at her.

Raised outside of Boston, Ivy’s immigrant grandmother relies on Ivy’s mild appearance for cover as she teaches her granddaughter how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen - and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, and her dream instantly evaporates.

Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when Ivy bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable - it feels like fate.

Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners, and weekend getaways to the cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.

Filled with surprising twists and a nuanced exploration of class and race, White Ivy is a “highly entertaining,” (The Washington Post) “propulsive debut” (San Francisco Chronicle) that offers a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for success at any cost.

©2020 Susie Yang. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Emily Woo Zeller skillfully steers the dramatic plot of this audiobook. . . . Zeller is commendable in breathing life into the mostly Asian characters. As Ivy, she is a reserved but cunning woman; as Sylvia, Ivy's friend, she is sweet and confident. Zeller's outstanding storytelling also elevates the work's twists and the harsh reality of the immigrant experience." (LitHub)

"Narrator Emily Woo Zeller gives a brilliant performance, bringing a chilling, hard edge to Ivy’s interior calculations, but also capturing the woman’s anguish, causing listeners to feel some sympathy for this complex, if ruthless, character." (Washington Post) 

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Sometimes the benefit of the doubt to a book that seems to be going nowhere eventually pays off. This is not one of those books.

In fact, I cannot remember being so furious that I wasted my time trying to allow for the possibility that the story would find a plot or the characters would develop.

Every character in this book is a horrible person and none of them ever find redemption.

There is no plot. As much as I tried to construct one or anticipate a pivotal moment when everything suddenly makes sense, I failed. It’s not there. Nothing.

I get what the author was trying to do in comparing the desires and motivations of culturally different characters, only to make clear that nothing is perfect. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

What I got was that Chinese people are horribly rude and diminishing of each other (something I know is not true) and that the WASPY-est of WASPS are dull and boring and ultimately awful to each other, too.

The main character is not only a lying, confused and completely unsympathetic murderer, she isn’t even entertaining in that role. She makes ZERO sense. Every choice she makes is just dull and stupid.

Who knows what motivates the other characters? Noting ever develops to lend a clue, other than a homophobic quickie ending.

This is a terrible book. Terrible.

I could go on for another 20 paragraphs but just thinking about how much I hated this book is making me feel sick.

The writing seems so promising, but absent a plot or character development it doesn’t help a single bit.

The narrator was pretty good, but I cannot imagine this was a fun job for her. Who wants to read that many hours of nothing?

If you see this book recommended, please investigate who’s recommending and why.

It’s a truly terrible book.

Hoped for more

Starts with many interesting characters that could potentially become a nuanced interesting story. However this becomes a novel of excruciating depths of self doubt, mired in self loathing as the main character, Ivy, grows up and makes her way in the world. Difficult to read the unrelenting desire and expectation to be given everything without giving anything of one’s self. Many opportunities In the narrative where there could have been an inflection point and Ivy could gained some insight and you think possibly make a change (plz) or get a clue, only to shortly thereafter see her revert to her (crazy) never ending self absorption.

WOW!!!

I hated every single character in this book!!!
(well, except for Poppy 😉)
And that's exactly why I loved it!!!
Wonderful job Susie Yang!!!

This was such a wonderful book! And I will be honest, i didn't think it was a wonderful book the entire time. I think about 80% in, it occurred to me, this book is absolutely remarkable!!
It is so well written! The characters are so fleshed out.
Just listen to it! I highly recommend.

The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller is a favorite of mine and she did a wonderful job!

Gripping

The writing is excellent! I usually don’t like first novels because the writing is so immature. But this book is vivid, deep and well developed. The story has enough twists to keep you interested and the characters are relatable. There are some things that I wished were wrapped up at the very end but maybe the author is prepping for a sequel. Otherwise I would have given 5 stars. I would definitely recommend. The performance was the best I’ve heard over the five years that I’ve had my audible subscription!

White Ivy

Well written. The storyline as seen thru the eyes of a person trying to assimilate into a world they did not come from. As a person of color I was able to see how difficult it can be for a person, not of my ethnicity, to climb the ladder of “success”! Ivy’s inner fears and insecurities drove her to desperate measures and in the end she had to have asked “was it really worth it”?

Yikes

The story was fine and I enjoyed the writing. I just never want to hear Emily Woo Zeller narrate anything else, ever again in my life.

Talented Author!!!!

I’ve never heard of Susie Yang before but I must say that she is now on my watch list! She is a literary beast with a keen anthropological and sociological eye . Phenomenal description of the immigrant experience and its psychological effects. With more work and dedication, she could be truly great. Like the potential to be even greater than Patricia Highsmith. Author is not just smart but broad in her perspective.

very good

I needed a new book for my commute of 3.5 hours round trip. this was on TODAY with Jenna Bush. Grateful for the suggestion!

Crazy Story

Good writing, lots of twists and turns, and a crazy story. Read in 2 days.

What a story!

Very well written and characters are
so finely drawn you feel as if you are with them.