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The Red Car to Hollywood
Los Angeles, 1924
Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American girl. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes―and then is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents―she’s in a tough spot. Horrified that Ruby’s reputation is at risk, her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband. Ruby is determined to foil their plans. But how?
Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star Anna May Wong, one of her neighbors in LA’s Chinatown. The girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen, and she scoffs at white people’s assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, surely Ruby can too.
Not everything is as it seems, though. Danger and betrayal lurk amidst the new possibilities. To build the life she wants, Ruby will have to contend with how others see her―and decide if she’s ready to truly see herself.
Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American girl. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes―and then is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents―she’s in a tough spot. Horrified that Ruby’s reputation is at risk, her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband. Ruby is determined to foil their plans. But how?
Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star Anna May Wong, one of her neighbors in LA’s Chinatown. The girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen, and she scoffs at white people’s assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, surely Ruby can too.
Not everything is as it seems, though. Danger and betrayal lurk amidst the new possibilities. To build the life she wants, Ruby will have to contend with how others see her―and decide if she’s ready to truly see herself.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2025
13 people are currently reading
3390 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Liu
4 books71 followersJennie Liu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Having been brought up with an ear to two cultures, she has been fascinated with the attitudes, social policies and changes in China each times she visits. Follow her on Twitter @starnesliu and IG @jennieliuliu.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 20, 2025
Jennie Liu is the author of four young adult novels, including Like Spilled Water and Girls on the Line. Her latest, The Red Car to Hollywood, follows the misadventures of Ruby Chan, a Chinese American teenager living in 1920s Los Angeles. Ruby gets into hot water when her parents discover she has been dating one of her white classmates from high school. Rather than let her help manage the family’s antique business in Chinatown, her father is convinced he must marry Ruby off to keep her out of trouble and maintain the family’s propriety in the community. Of course, Ruby has other ideas about her future, and along the way she meets Anna May Wong, who is still working in her father’s laundry despite her burgeoning fame as a film star. Ruby and Anna May are two like-minded gals. They have a lot of fun together—and sometimes get into a bit of trouble!
As the daughter of Chinese immigrants who has described herself as having been “brought up with an ear to two cultures,” Jennie Liu does a masterful job of weaving Anna May Wong’s story together with her protagonist’s imagined one. Anna May’s recent surge in popularity has spawned a number of novels that either include her as a character or characters inspired by her. The Red Car to Hollywood is my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. You can tell the amount of care Jennie has put into the research—in fact, that’s how we first connected. Jennie emailed me around the time we were both finishing up first drafts of our manuscripts and we traded a few newspaper clippings.
Her book was such a joy to read because unlike nonfiction, where one has to stay firmly tied to the facts, it imagines the world that Ruby and Anna May inhabited in a way that is incredibly satisfying. For example, I’ve always known that Anna May’s career caused strife at home. Her parents didn’t always agree with her acting but they were willing to look the other way when she brought home fat paychecks. But there are no recorded conversations Anna May might have had with her parents (other than episodes she recounted in interviews). In Red Car, we actually get to see and hear how her family might have responded to things like seeing her stripped down to that scandalous Mongol slave’s costume for The Thief of Bagdad.
With all this in mind, Jennie and I got together to discuss where the idea for her book came from and how she set about writing it. You can read our full interview here: https://halfcastewoman.substack.com/p...
As the daughter of Chinese immigrants who has described herself as having been “brought up with an ear to two cultures,” Jennie Liu does a masterful job of weaving Anna May Wong’s story together with her protagonist’s imagined one. Anna May’s recent surge in popularity has spawned a number of novels that either include her as a character or characters inspired by her. The Red Car to Hollywood is my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. You can tell the amount of care Jennie has put into the research—in fact, that’s how we first connected. Jennie emailed me around the time we were both finishing up first drafts of our manuscripts and we traded a few newspaper clippings.
Her book was such a joy to read because unlike nonfiction, where one has to stay firmly tied to the facts, it imagines the world that Ruby and Anna May inhabited in a way that is incredibly satisfying. For example, I’ve always known that Anna May’s career caused strife at home. Her parents didn’t always agree with her acting but they were willing to look the other way when she brought home fat paychecks. But there are no recorded conversations Anna May might have had with her parents (other than episodes she recounted in interviews). In Red Car, we actually get to see and hear how her family might have responded to things like seeing her stripped down to that scandalous Mongol slave’s costume for The Thief of Bagdad.
With all this in mind, Jennie and I got together to discuss where the idea for her book came from and how she set about writing it. You can read our full interview here: https://halfcastewoman.substack.com/p...
March 18, 2025
3.75 stars
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
While romance is my favorite genre, I do have a soft spot for historical fiction. And after reading quite a few romance books it was great to dive into this new story, especially one about an underrepresented community! Ruby felt like a real character and some of the solutions she came up with in her predicaments were fun to watch.
I loved how the author included actress Anna May Wong in the story. Though an influential figure, she’s (sadly) not one of the first people to be thought of when someone mentions Hollywood’s golden age. Her friendship with Ruby helped make her feel more human rather than just a passing figure. The author pulled from real history and it definitely shows!
I also appreciated how, while the story ends on a high note, not everything gets resolved with a neat bow. Some of the perpetrators that Ruby dealt with never receive any comeuppance, and that felt like a more honest way to portray the landscape of the 1920s for Chinese Americans rather than sugarcoating it (as much I would’ve loved seeing her get justice).
I would’ve liked to see Ruby helping out in her father’s store before she had gotten in trouble. She has a huge passion for it, but the story only tells us she’s really good at working there before showing it. A scene or two showcasing her savviness with sales would’ve been a great addition. I also wish her relationship with James had more of a resolution. I don’t see them dating, but a continuation of their friendship would’ve been sweet.
I hope this book receives more attention, it’s a good one!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
While romance is my favorite genre, I do have a soft spot for historical fiction. And after reading quite a few romance books it was great to dive into this new story, especially one about an underrepresented community! Ruby felt like a real character and some of the solutions she came up with in her predicaments were fun to watch.
I loved how the author included actress Anna May Wong in the story. Though an influential figure, she’s (sadly) not one of the first people to be thought of when someone mentions Hollywood’s golden age. Her friendship with Ruby helped make her feel more human rather than just a passing figure. The author pulled from real history and it definitely shows!
I also appreciated how, while the story ends on a high note, not everything gets resolved with a neat bow. Some of the perpetrators that Ruby dealt with never receive any comeuppance, and that felt like a more honest way to portray the landscape of the 1920s for Chinese Americans rather than sugarcoating it (as much I would’ve loved seeing her get justice).
I would’ve liked to see Ruby helping out in her father’s store before she had gotten in trouble. She has a huge passion for it, but the story only tells us she’s really good at working there before showing it. A scene or two showcasing her savviness with sales would’ve been a great addition. I also wish her relationship with James had more of a resolution. I don’t see them dating, but a continuation of their friendship would’ve been sweet.
I hope this book receives more attention, it’s a good one!
February 27, 2025
When word gets to her parents that sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan was seen with a white boy, they immediately pull her out of high school and hire a matchmaker to find a husband for her. She may be American born, but as far as anyone in 1924 Los Angeles is concerned, she is Chinese, and needs to learn her place. When her Ba leaves for one final purchasing trip to China, he threatens to find a Chinese husband for her who will also serve as an overseas contact for their curiosity shop in Chinatown. With the current crackdown on immigration, leaving the United States could mean losing her citizenship. But Ruby has no intention of marrying, either here or in China. When she meets and becomes friends with Anna May Wong, the Chinese American movie star, she’s impressed with Anna’s determination and drive to succeed, and wonders if there is a place for her in the booming business of Hollywood. Liu expertly portrays the experiences of Chinese Americans in California after the completion of the railroad. Ruby’s development as an adolescent rebelling against the traditional expectations of her parents and then gradually gaining insight into the complex realities of their world will feel authentic to teens of all backgrounds. The exploration of Orientalism and sexual harassment in the work place adds depth and tension to this slim but insightful novel.
March 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Hollywood in the 20's, that alone intrigued me enough to request this book.
The Red Car to Hollywood follows Chinese-American teenager Ruby Chan as her life is imploding amongst the racially segregated Hollywood in the 1920's. Ruby has done the unthinkable by dating a white (affluent) teenage boy, an act that brings undue attention, criticism and shame to her traditional Chinese family who owns a shop in Chinatown.
Ruby is full of teenage angst and rebellion and tries to strike out on her own to make money to run away before her Ba returns back from China and marries her off in order to quell the criticism of her previous actions. She meets and befriends Hollywood Actress Anna May Wong, typecast in stereotypical roles due to her "exotic" background. Ruby learns the hard way that the world does not favor her culture, and sees her as a pawn that can be played with.
I did not find Ruby likeable, which made it hard for me to sympathize with how she treated others in certain scenes. I also did not like the revenge scene, I thought it was tacky and unbelievable.
For a short novel, it does have powerful messages and wraps up quickly and a little bit too neat for my taste. But I enjoyed reading about this time in Hollywood through the lens of an outsider.
Hollywood in the 20's, that alone intrigued me enough to request this book.
The Red Car to Hollywood follows Chinese-American teenager Ruby Chan as her life is imploding amongst the racially segregated Hollywood in the 1920's. Ruby has done the unthinkable by dating a white (affluent) teenage boy, an act that brings undue attention, criticism and shame to her traditional Chinese family who owns a shop in Chinatown.
Ruby is full of teenage angst and rebellion and tries to strike out on her own to make money to run away before her Ba returns back from China and marries her off in order to quell the criticism of her previous actions. She meets and befriends Hollywood Actress Anna May Wong, typecast in stereotypical roles due to her "exotic" background. Ruby learns the hard way that the world does not favor her culture, and sees her as a pawn that can be played with.
I did not find Ruby likeable, which made it hard for me to sympathize with how she treated others in certain scenes. I also did not like the revenge scene, I thought it was tacky and unbelievable.
For a short novel, it does have powerful messages and wraps up quickly and a little bit too neat for my taste. But I enjoyed reading about this time in Hollywood through the lens of an outsider.
April 21, 2025
Thanks to LibraryThing & Lerner Books for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
From the eye-catching cover to the last page, this book kept me turning the pages. I enjoy young adult novels, especially ones that explore a culture different from mine. And this one took place in the 1920s, so the combination of coming-of-age, historical fiction, and second-generation Chinese teens made this an appealing read.
Author Jennie Liu explains how she was inspired to write about Ruby Chan, a “fictional second-generation Chinese girl walking a line between traditional Chinese patriarchal values of obedience and American ideals of individualism and quality. The 1920s was a dramatic period of social change and unrest, and in the Los Angeles of the early twenties, Hollywood was the global center of the rising silent movie industry.”
With Hollywood as a backdrop to Ruby’s personal story, Liu includes real-life film star Anna May Wong in the novel. The teenage actress, who befriends Ruby, helps her to explore becoming independent and self-reliant without resorting to marrying a Chinese husband through a matchmaker set up by her parents.
I appreciated learning about life and the issues Chinese teens in the 1920s had to deal with, such as Ruby’s secret relationship with a forbidden white boy, developing her business skills at her father’s shop, and her struggles working at an upscale department store. The novel also vividly describes the racism as well as sexism of the time, which makes this a book to add to every high school student’s reading list.
This is a realistic portrayal of friendship, coming of age, women’s independence, and family relationships in Los Angeles’ Chinatown of the 1920s.
From the eye-catching cover to the last page, this book kept me turning the pages. I enjoy young adult novels, especially ones that explore a culture different from mine. And this one took place in the 1920s, so the combination of coming-of-age, historical fiction, and second-generation Chinese teens made this an appealing read.
Author Jennie Liu explains how she was inspired to write about Ruby Chan, a “fictional second-generation Chinese girl walking a line between traditional Chinese patriarchal values of obedience and American ideals of individualism and quality. The 1920s was a dramatic period of social change and unrest, and in the Los Angeles of the early twenties, Hollywood was the global center of the rising silent movie industry.”
With Hollywood as a backdrop to Ruby’s personal story, Liu includes real-life film star Anna May Wong in the novel. The teenage actress, who befriends Ruby, helps her to explore becoming independent and self-reliant without resorting to marrying a Chinese husband through a matchmaker set up by her parents.
I appreciated learning about life and the issues Chinese teens in the 1920s had to deal with, such as Ruby’s secret relationship with a forbidden white boy, developing her business skills at her father’s shop, and her struggles working at an upscale department store. The novel also vividly describes the racism as well as sexism of the time, which makes this a book to add to every high school student’s reading list.
This is a realistic portrayal of friendship, coming of age, women’s independence, and family relationships in Los Angeles’ Chinatown of the 1920s.
December 17, 2024
Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to read The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu in exchange for a review. #TheRedCartoHollywood #NetGalley
Ruby Chan is not your ordinary Chinese American girl, she is determined to make a named for herself and her family. One major things gets in her way and that is Ruby’s relationship with a white boy is discovered by her community’s church leader. To cover up her act, the family must pay and enlist in the help of a Chinese Matchmaker. Ruby’s father even goes as far as not allowing her to work in her family’s antique store which she loves. Her Ba makes a plan to leave to not only find her a husband, but also goods for their store. Ruby has four months to either find a husband on her own or find another way out. As a Chinese American woman in the 1920s her options are limited. Will she join the movies and play scandalous roles like her friend Anna May or will she find another way to make a named for herself.
Liu crafts a pivotal piece about the discriminating treatment that Chinese Americans women experienced during the 1920s on and off the screen
Ruby Chan is not your ordinary Chinese American girl, she is determined to make a named for herself and her family. One major things gets in her way and that is Ruby’s relationship with a white boy is discovered by her community’s church leader. To cover up her act, the family must pay and enlist in the help of a Chinese Matchmaker. Ruby’s father even goes as far as not allowing her to work in her family’s antique store which she loves. Her Ba makes a plan to leave to not only find her a husband, but also goods for their store. Ruby has four months to either find a husband on her own or find another way out. As a Chinese American woman in the 1920s her options are limited. Will she join the movies and play scandalous roles like her friend Anna May or will she find another way to make a named for herself.
Liu crafts a pivotal piece about the discriminating treatment that Chinese Americans women experienced during the 1920s on and off the screen
Read
March 31, 20253.30.25. second half 8+. 1 brief sx scene. Sx assault attempt. Very little lng. No vio.
1924 LA.
American-born Chinese Ruby (16) is facing a tough future. Her parents recently discovered she has been dating the son of a prominent wealthy White family. Or she was until the relationship came to an abrupt end. Embarrassed, her parents have called in a matchmaker who could arrange a marriage to a guy in San Fransisco. Or even back in China. Fortunately, Ruby's father already had plans to travel to China to purchase more goods for their Chinese antiques shop, so the matching process is on hold for 4 months. Ruby sees this as an opportunity to take control of her own life. She wants to get a job, help the store, work her connection to famous Chinese actress Anna May Wong, and maybe find her own romantic connection. But almost nothing goes as planned, and the clock is ticking until Ruby's dad returns.
Like the afterward context about being female of Chinese descent on west coast in 1920s. Immigration Act of 1924 established quotas to limit immigration from China. Anna May Wong. Small population of Asian females torn between traditional families and individualism of USA.
1924 LA.
American-born Chinese Ruby (16) is facing a tough future. Her parents recently discovered she has been dating the son of a prominent wealthy White family. Or she was until the relationship came to an abrupt end. Embarrassed, her parents have called in a matchmaker who could arrange a marriage to a guy in San Fransisco. Or even back in China. Fortunately, Ruby's father already had plans to travel to China to purchase more goods for their Chinese antiques shop, so the matching process is on hold for 4 months. Ruby sees this as an opportunity to take control of her own life. She wants to get a job, help the store, work her connection to famous Chinese actress Anna May Wong, and maybe find her own romantic connection. But almost nothing goes as planned, and the clock is ticking until Ruby's dad returns.
Like the afterward context about being female of Chinese descent on west coast in 1920s. Immigration Act of 1924 established quotas to limit immigration from China. Anna May Wong. Small population of Asian females torn between traditional families and individualism of USA.
November 22, 2024
I want to thank NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved this book. It was a real eye opener to me not realizing the racism that Chinese and many other people of different ethnic backgrounds faced not just back in the 1920's but now! I loved this book for the stories of friendships and the love stories. I look forward to reading more books by Jennie Liu in the future!
I absolutely loved this book. It was a real eye opener to me not realizing the racism that Chinese and many other people of different ethnic backgrounds faced not just back in the 1920's but now! I loved this book for the stories of friendships and the love stories. I look forward to reading more books by Jennie Liu in the future!
Want to read
September 20, 2024"Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American girl. But when her secret relationship with a white boy is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents, her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband. Ruby is determined to foil their plans. But how?"
disappointed, such a bland cover
disappointed, such a bland cover
February 25, 2025
There’s a lot packed into this novel. A story about friendship, the role of women, and what it means to fight for your own independence within societal restrictions. The time period, too - I learned so much about Chinese American life in early LA Chinatown, and Anna Mae Wong is a new historical hero for me. Impressive combination of story and history in this easily digestible book.
March 4, 2025
For such a short book, it really packs a punch with how much it covers: sexual violence and racism all in 1920s Los Angeles. I liked Ruby as a main character, she felt honest and didn’t want to be stereotyped. Highly recommend this one.
Read
May 21, 2025Loved this story and the narration. Ruby is a typical American teenager with the bonus of having a gift for business. Holding her back are her very traditional Chinese parents and the rampant racism and sexism of the 1920s. Actress Anna May Wong plays a supporting role!
May 24, 2025
This kept me intrigued & was nicely paced. Sometimes I felt like the MC was too narrowly fleshed out and the scope of what we knew about her was too small, which made it repetitive at times. It was an aspect of history that I appreciated understanding on a more personal level.
July 20, 2025
3.5 rounded
I enjoyed this book, but it really wasn’t what I was hoping for. It was an interesting snapshot of a young Chinese-American’s life in the 1920s which I appreciated, but I also thought we were going to see more of Hollywood of this era.
I enjoyed this book, but it really wasn’t what I was hoping for. It was an interesting snapshot of a young Chinese-American’s life in the 1920s which I appreciated, but I also thought we were going to see more of Hollywood of this era.
May 1, 2025
This was a very interesting story using the treatment of Asian Americans as its theme. She wrote it in an easy to understand manner.
July 10, 2025
4 out of 5 stars. A beautiful story of inventing yourself under the pressure of family and cultural pressure. A great book for a quiet weekend.
August 3, 2025
I liked reading about an unique perspective that I’m usually missing in typical books. I wish for the ending though that there was a little bit more, or perhaps an epilogue.
September 13, 2025
Just left us hanging at the end. I hope there is book #2.
November 2, 2025
Very well paced with characters /stories that just draw the reader in.
January 6, 2026
An interesting look at 1920's Chinese culture in LA.
March 29, 2025
Ruby’s journey is relatable as a young girl coming of age but I feel like the story fell flat. Her friendship with Anna is something I wish they would’ve explored more. I did love the bits about their culture and what it was like trying to represent authentic Chinese culture at that time. The different attitudes surrounding the themes of gender roles and immigrants were well done. The ending really fell flat though. It felt like the book ended immediately after the apex. There was so much build up and then oh ok book done
Currently reading
April 29, 2025An interview where I chat about the novel's origin story and research with Anna May Wong biographer Katie Gee Salisbury! https://substack.com/home/post/p-1622.... Her biography, NOT YOUR CHINA DOLL, is so glittery and bright!
Another inspiration for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD:
When my first novel, GIRLS ON THE LINE, was released several years ago, I was invited to speak at a Chinese Heritage Camp for families. The program organizers asked if I had any ideas for other cultural topics. Asian Fetishism, It’s a Very Real Thing was one topic I suggested. Although I had to pass on the request to give that particular talk, the idea stuck with me, because if you happen to be an Asian female, at some point, you begin to see that this is a very real thing, even if you don’t quite understand the intersection of racism and sexism.
p.s. There's a Goodreads Giveaway for ARCs of THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD until Feb 28th.
Jan 3 is the birthday of Anna May Wong, one of the inspirations for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD! Here's a great animated short from the New York Historical Society about her legacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwlrn... Enjoy!
People have been asking me what was the spark for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD.
The rise of Asian hate during the COVID pandemic was a big part of it. Like most Asian women, I was long familiar with suggestive racialized comments and the un-simple question, Where are you from? But during the pandemic, I found myself with a new guarded fear, so I started this story about the challenges of being a second-generation girl. It’s a historical that draws on the early days of the Chinese in America, but it's mostly about navigating relationships, making mistakes, and finding that sweet spot where self-identity meets pride of culture.
Another inspiration for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD:
When my first novel, GIRLS ON THE LINE, was released several years ago, I was invited to speak at a Chinese Heritage Camp for families. The program organizers asked if I had any ideas for other cultural topics. Asian Fetishism, It’s a Very Real Thing was one topic I suggested. Although I had to pass on the request to give that particular talk, the idea stuck with me, because if you happen to be an Asian female, at some point, you begin to see that this is a very real thing, even if you don’t quite understand the intersection of racism and sexism.
p.s. There's a Goodreads Giveaway for ARCs of THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD until Feb 28th.
Jan 3 is the birthday of Anna May Wong, one of the inspirations for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD! Here's a great animated short from the New York Historical Society about her legacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwlrn... Enjoy!
People have been asking me what was the spark for THE RED CAR TO HOLLYWOOD.
The rise of Asian hate during the COVID pandemic was a big part of it. Like most Asian women, I was long familiar with suggestive racialized comments and the un-simple question, Where are you from? But during the pandemic, I found myself with a new guarded fear, so I started this story about the challenges of being a second-generation girl. It’s a historical that draws on the early days of the Chinese in America, but it's mostly about navigating relationships, making mistakes, and finding that sweet spot where self-identity meets pride of culture.
January 13, 2026
This is a fairly short story but it packs a punch! Friendship, women's roles, society's expectations, sexual violence, racism- and Liu manages to explore all these themes giving them the full attention and care they deserve. I think my only criticism is that the ending just kind of... happened? I didn't even realize I was at the actual end of the book until I turned the page and it was the author's note (which you should read! I just wasn't expecting it!) and discussion questions. I would've liked a little more build up or maybe an epilogue.
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