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.

Heartbreaking Page Turner

I was totally immersed in the story. The narration was superb. The twists and turns were unexpected and although heartbreaking, it also had bursts of joy.

Exceptional story and performance .

This intense novel was well crafted. For me, it was culturally relevant, having previously lived in China, albeit as an Irishman, I was completely consumed by this page-turning story. I thoroughly enjoyed the epilog to catch the reader up at the end of this book.

I stuck with it but most of it was pretty lame

Lacked depth and realism .. sure things like this happen but this seemed so surface and unrealistic

just tell the story!!!

instead of trying to push an agenda. This could have been a really good book if the author didn't try to preach her agenda. Chinese girl is horribly abused in CHINA. She comes to the USA illegally to steal her baby which was stolen from her by her corrupt husband. Six years she lies, lives with the adopted family, doesn't bother to be honest or learn to speak English. She shoots her husband and the MOM takes the blame. The summary is the bad rich people were to blame. The child didn't learn Chinese culture, opps, the culture that wanted her dead. Also, guns are bad eventhough they'd all be dead without one. Go woke, ruin what could have been a good read. it was worth the $1.99 I paid for it. but not a penny more...

book review

Was somewhat intriguing but in some parts the dialog didn't seem believable or authentic. I listened till the end but was not in love with the characters or the plot.

Excellent book

The twists and turns. You grow from hating to loving characters. Some twists you can see some you can not. Great read.

This is a must read!

This is my absolute favorite book this year. The story and the audio was well done.

Just Ok

I enjoyed the story but found the interaction between Jasmine and Anthony especially aggravating. The ending had a satisfying element to it, but it all got wrapped up a little too neatly and unrealistically for me. After a shocking event at the end, things just got tidied up too quickly and neatly for such a complex situation.

I loved the entanglement that played out. Surprising twists and turns

I loved the whole story. I do wish things had turned out differently for jasmine and Fiona