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Park Avenue: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26#1 NYT-bestselling YA author Renee Ahdieh's adult debut novel, about a young lawyer who gets pulled in to manage a crisis with her firm's biggest client, a family whose Korean beauty brand is worth a billion dollars, pitched as CRAZY RICH ASIANS meets SUCCESSION
Jia Song was always destined for greatness. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, she promised herself that she would have every Fifth Avenue luxury when she grew up, and it is all within reach. She has just made junior partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm, she has two best friends who are always there for her, and she is even about to score the ultra-luxe Birkin bag of her dreams. Sure, maybe her love life is in shambles and she’s spending too much time at the office. But she is set up to become the firm’s next star. So when her boss asks her for a Friday morning favor, sitting in on the hush-hush family implosion of a high-level client, she accepts without hesitation—only to find out that the client in question is one of the most famous Korean families in the world.
The Park family’s net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and their mega-successful Korean beauty brand has shaped the culture for the past two decades. But the patriarch is filing for divorce while his wife is dying, and their three children can’t stop snapping at each other. With both the family fortune and legacy under threat from the worst kind of scandal, it’s up to Jia to set things right—and she only has a month to do it. Suddenly, Jia is thrust into the three Park siblings’ back-stabbing family politics and embroiled in a drama that feels straight out of a Korean soap opera. As Jia sorts through the lies and subterfuge, chasing the truth across the globe on private jets, she finds herself falling for this broken, badly-behaving family in ways she can’t quite explain. But it is also becoming all too clear that the Parks are hiding dark secrets, from themselves and from Jia. Can she separate the truth from the lies in time to protect the Parks’ fortune and secure her success at the firm? And can she hold on to what’s most important, even if it means admitting that what she always wanted isn’t what she actually needs?
Jia Song was always destined for greatness. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, she promised herself that she would have every Fifth Avenue luxury when she grew up, and it is all within reach. She has just made junior partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm, she has two best friends who are always there for her, and she is even about to score the ultra-luxe Birkin bag of her dreams. Sure, maybe her love life is in shambles and she’s spending too much time at the office. But she is set up to become the firm’s next star. So when her boss asks her for a Friday morning favor, sitting in on the hush-hush family implosion of a high-level client, she accepts without hesitation—only to find out that the client in question is one of the most famous Korean families in the world.
The Park family’s net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and their mega-successful Korean beauty brand has shaped the culture for the past two decades. But the patriarch is filing for divorce while his wife is dying, and their three children can’t stop snapping at each other. With both the family fortune and legacy under threat from the worst kind of scandal, it’s up to Jia to set things right—and she only has a month to do it. Suddenly, Jia is thrust into the three Park siblings’ back-stabbing family politics and embroiled in a drama that feels straight out of a Korean soap opera. As Jia sorts through the lies and subterfuge, chasing the truth across the globe on private jets, she finds herself falling for this broken, badly-behaving family in ways she can’t quite explain. But it is also becoming all too clear that the Parks are hiding dark secrets, from themselves and from Jia. Can she separate the truth from the lies in time to protect the Parks’ fortune and secure her success at the firm? And can she hold on to what’s most important, even if it means admitting that what she always wanted isn’t what she actually needs?
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2025
2092 people are currently reading
33621 people want to read
About the author
Renée Ahdieh
31 books18k followersRenée Ahdieh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking, skincare, and fashion. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. She and her family live in North Carolina.
She is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn series, the Flame in the Mist series, The Beautiful quartet, and the picture book, Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners. Park Avenue is her debut adult novel.
** Please note that requests for Advanced Reader Copies should be made through the respective publisher, and all other requests should be submitted through the author's website. **
She is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn series, the Flame in the Mist series, The Beautiful quartet, and the picture book, Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners. Park Avenue is her debut adult novel.
** Please note that requests for Advanced Reader Copies should be made through the respective publisher, and all other requests should be submitted through the author's website. **
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 940 reviews
July 24, 2025
The Formal-ish Review
In the months between March and May, I was deep in the trenches of what I can only term as my "Succession relapse". It started with me watching random Pride and Prejudice 2005 edits on Youtube, then me obsessively scrolling through Pinterest thirst whispers concerning Matthew MacFadyen (despite the fact that he's my father's age and has a daughter my age, I'm so embarrassingly weird about him), and then finally culminating in me rewatching all four seasons of the HBO show in bits. Then, once I was finished with the show, I started hunting for books with similar themes to Succession, or books with lots of rich people drama. Of all the books I added to my tbr, Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh was probably the most interesting. But as you can probably guess from my rating, it was nothing like I'd anticipated.
Pitched as "Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians", Park Avenue follows a Korean American attorney Jia Song, who gets handed a high-profile case concerning a multi-millionaire Korean-American company. As we soon get to know, the patriarch of this company, Seven Park, who is currently going through a divorce from his wife, is accused of money laundering by his three adult children, and Jia has to prove that their allegation against him is true. With the opportunity to become a senior partner in her farm dangling in front of her, Jia soon gets embroiled in Park family drama. With a lot of backstabbing, scandals, and high society shenanigans afoot, whether Jia manages to hold her ground and succeed in her quest is the plot of the book.
Here's What I Liked about the Book
♣ The short chapters and fast-paced narration.
♣ All the Uber-rich stuff (think private jets, Michelin-starred Parisian fine dining scenes, a bunch of high fashion brand name drops).
♣ The whole "Oh we're so rich but look how unhappy we are!" shtick. It's just fun to see the ultra-rich be miserable.
Here's What I didn't Like about the Book
♣ The writing feels very YA and childish at times, and that's not at all what I was expecting when I picked up this book.
♣ The romance angle between Jia and the House Manager of the Park family, Darius Rohani, felt very rushed and out of place. I also didn't like how unabashedly flirty these two characters were towards each other, when it's completely against Jia's work protocols, and we're repeatedly told that she's a stickler for rules.
♣ The sibling dynamics between two of the Park children, the twins Sora and Suzy. For something as rare as identical twins, I happen to know an awful lot of them in real life, and the whole good twin/evil twin trope always gives me second-hand embarrassment. The other sibling of the three is also very underdeveloped as a character.
Here's What I Hated about the Book
♣ The book has these random chapters in between that are narrated by "an unknown person" for the majority of the book, and my god is the writing in those chapters utterly cringe and superfluous.
♣ The twist at the ending is so bizarre in its absurdity that it will have you questioning your sanity for choosing to go through with the book till the end.
♣ Hated the protagonist's dumb choices throughout the book. I have this very particular vendetta against dumb female protagonists who seem to function with a single brain cell despite being a canonically smart person, and Jia was unfortunately one of them.
♣ Renée Ahdieh's writing seems as though it can't decide what it wants this book to be. It's too meandering for a mystery thriller, too plot-heavy for a literary fiction, and too juvenile for an adult contemporary fiction. Both Succession and Crazy Rich Asians (the books, even more so) are so superior to this book that mentioning all three of them in the same line feels sacrilegious.
♣ The book has way too many characters that needed some better characterisation. Also, I can't say about others, but the Indian representation in this book irked me to no end. (see below)
So there you go. This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, but it turned out to be sorely underwhelming. I give it 1.5 stars out of 5, rounded down because it was a bleak reading experience and also put me in a severe reading slump.
Thoughts Before Reading
Collecting all the Succession-esque novels I can find like infinity stones.
Thoughts While Reading
♠ "Jia leaned back in her chair to study Sora from a distance. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to slow-clap or scream. The pole up this chick’s backside had to be shoved straight through to her head."
I would be so mortified if someone who I just met were thinking this about me. I DO NOT fw judgmental people.
♠ Imagine you're writing a book, and you want to include a European™ character. So you give him a name that's something like "Jean-Pierre Dupont". And then you have this character cook Pastel de Nata as part of his culture. And then you have him speak Polish. That's essentially what was done to the Indian representative character in this book. For anyone still unaware, India is not a monolithic culture or ethnicity, and giving a single character random traits from a bunch of these very distinct ethnicities doesn't make your writing inclusive. We're not preparing trail mix here.
♠ "Naturally, [Redacted]’s death and the Caymans bank statement had taken center stage these last few days. But Jia had not forgotten to nurse her rage at Darius at a low simmer, as if she were braising meat. Osso buco. One of her favorite dishes to make on a chilly winter evening. Waiting for the exact moment for it to soften and fall off the bone.
In fact, that was a great analogy.
The first step to a perfect braise was to sear the meat on all sides, just like the finest chef would do. Jia’s anger had seared into her on all sides. Been left to braise for long hours. Now she was ready to cut into it and watch everything fall apart.
Why are you comparing your anger to cooking a meat-based dish? The writing is so weird here I can't...
♠ "Jia glared at him with the fire of a thousand suns."
I'm not reading a lame-ass YA book, bye...
♠ “You like me.”
..."“Eat a dick,” she grumbled."
They met each other three days ago under strictly professional circumstances.
♠ “Because tea is better. And there’s a tea for every occasion.” Darius settled back into the chair across from her. “I can name you a tea to drink when you’re sad. When you’re tired. When you’re happy. When you’re sick. Tea is infinitely superior.”
Why is it always the tea aficionados who are this smug about drinking a literal drug beverage.
♠ "The intensity in his brown eyes drew her in. She wanted to plumb their depths. Expose every lie and sift through every truth. Rigorous honesty from someone who knew her pain on an intimate level? It was just the kind of drug she could get addicted to. Just the kind of drug she needed to avoid."
Imagine you're on a metro, minding your own business, contemplating self-homicide because life sucks and whatnot, and you see two ninth graders, a boy and a girl, intensely looking at each other as though they are Romeo and Juliet in that Capulet ball, and not specimens of a terribly misfortunate species that is Indian Teenagers while being accompanied by their parents to a chemistry class. And you, my dear reader, are forced to decide whether to laugh or cry first, because what is this melodrama, and why are you wedged in between these two insipid creatures? The romantic pairing in this book makes you feel like that. And they are in their mid to late 30s. Criminals.
♠ "At this point in the tale, it is possible this author might be on the receiving end of some frustration. Perhaps accused of not being more forthcoming with respect to their identity."
Literally no one cares bro...
♠ An omelet cannot be made without breaking a few eggs.
Oh my god not this fucking needle drop. Keep Succession references out of this stupid book.
In the months between March and May, I was deep in the trenches of what I can only term as my "Succession relapse". It started with me watching random Pride and Prejudice 2005 edits on Youtube, then me obsessively scrolling through Pinterest thirst whispers concerning Matthew MacFadyen (despite the fact that he's my father's age and has a daughter my age, I'm so embarrassingly weird about him), and then finally culminating in me rewatching all four seasons of the HBO show in bits. Then, once I was finished with the show, I started hunting for books with similar themes to Succession, or books with lots of rich people drama. Of all the books I added to my tbr, Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh was probably the most interesting. But as you can probably guess from my rating, it was nothing like I'd anticipated.
Pitched as "Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians", Park Avenue follows a Korean American attorney Jia Song, who gets handed a high-profile case concerning a multi-millionaire Korean-American company. As we soon get to know, the patriarch of this company, Seven Park, who is currently going through a divorce from his wife, is accused of money laundering by his three adult children, and Jia has to prove that their allegation against him is true. With the opportunity to become a senior partner in her farm dangling in front of her, Jia soon gets embroiled in Park family drama. With a lot of backstabbing, scandals, and high society shenanigans afoot, whether Jia manages to hold her ground and succeed in her quest is the plot of the book.
Here's What I Liked about the Book
♣ The short chapters and fast-paced narration.
♣ All the Uber-rich stuff (think private jets, Michelin-starred Parisian fine dining scenes, a bunch of high fashion brand name drops).
♣ The whole "Oh we're so rich but look how unhappy we are!" shtick. It's just fun to see the ultra-rich be miserable.
Here's What I didn't Like about the Book
♣ The writing feels very YA and childish at times, and that's not at all what I was expecting when I picked up this book.
♣ The romance angle between Jia and the House Manager of the Park family, Darius Rohani, felt very rushed and out of place. I also didn't like how unabashedly flirty these two characters were towards each other, when it's completely against Jia's work protocols, and we're repeatedly told that she's a stickler for rules.
♣ The sibling dynamics between two of the Park children, the twins Sora and Suzy. For something as rare as identical twins, I happen to know an awful lot of them in real life, and the whole good twin/evil twin trope always gives me second-hand embarrassment. The other sibling of the three is also very underdeveloped as a character.
Here's What I Hated about the Book
♣ The book has these random chapters in between that are narrated by "an unknown person" for the majority of the book, and my god is the writing in those chapters utterly cringe and superfluous.
♣ The twist at the ending is so bizarre in its absurdity that it will have you questioning your sanity for choosing to go through with the book till the end.
♣ Hated the protagonist's dumb choices throughout the book. I have this very particular vendetta against dumb female protagonists who seem to function with a single brain cell despite being a canonically smart person, and Jia was unfortunately one of them.
♣ Renée Ahdieh's writing seems as though it can't decide what it wants this book to be. It's too meandering for a mystery thriller, too plot-heavy for a literary fiction, and too juvenile for an adult contemporary fiction. Both Succession and Crazy Rich Asians (the books, even more so) are so superior to this book that mentioning all three of them in the same line feels sacrilegious.
♣ The book has way too many characters that needed some better characterisation. Also, I can't say about others, but the Indian representation in this book irked me to no end. (see below)
So there you go. This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, but it turned out to be sorely underwhelming. I give it 1.5 stars out of 5, rounded down because it was a bleak reading experience and also put me in a severe reading slump.
Thoughts Before Reading
Collecting all the Succession-esque novels I can find like infinity stones.
Thoughts While Reading
♠ "Jia leaned back in her chair to study Sora from a distance. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to slow-clap or scream. The pole up this chick’s backside had to be shoved straight through to her head."
I would be so mortified if someone who I just met were thinking this about me. I DO NOT fw judgmental people.
♠ Imagine you're writing a book, and you want to include a European™ character. So you give him a name that's something like "Jean-Pierre Dupont". And then you have this character cook Pastel de Nata as part of his culture. And then you have him speak Polish. That's essentially what was done to the Indian representative character in this book. For anyone still unaware, India is not a monolithic culture or ethnicity, and giving a single character random traits from a bunch of these very distinct ethnicities doesn't make your writing inclusive. We're not preparing trail mix here.
♠ "Naturally, [Redacted]’s death and the Caymans bank statement had taken center stage these last few days. But Jia had not forgotten to nurse her rage at Darius at a low simmer, as if she were braising meat. Osso buco. One of her favorite dishes to make on a chilly winter evening. Waiting for the exact moment for it to soften and fall off the bone.
In fact, that was a great analogy.
The first step to a perfect braise was to sear the meat on all sides, just like the finest chef would do. Jia’s anger had seared into her on all sides. Been left to braise for long hours. Now she was ready to cut into it and watch everything fall apart.
Why are you comparing your anger to cooking a meat-based dish? The writing is so weird here I can't...
♠ "Jia glared at him with the fire of a thousand suns."
I'm not reading a lame-ass YA book, bye...
♠ “You like me.”
..."“Eat a dick,” she grumbled."
They met each other three days ago under strictly professional circumstances.
♠ “Because tea is better. And there’s a tea for every occasion.” Darius settled back into the chair across from her. “I can name you a tea to drink when you’re sad. When you’re tired. When you’re happy. When you’re sick. Tea is infinitely superior.”
Why is it always the tea aficionados who are this smug about drinking a literal drug beverage.
♠ "The intensity in his brown eyes drew her in. She wanted to plumb their depths. Expose every lie and sift through every truth. Rigorous honesty from someone who knew her pain on an intimate level? It was just the kind of drug she could get addicted to. Just the kind of drug she needed to avoid."
Imagine you're on a metro, minding your own business, contemplating self-homicide because life sucks and whatnot, and you see two ninth graders, a boy and a girl, intensely looking at each other as though they are Romeo and Juliet in that Capulet ball, and not specimens of a terribly misfortunate species that is Indian Teenagers while being accompanied by their parents to a chemistry class. And you, my dear reader, are forced to decide whether to laugh or cry first, because what is this melodrama, and why are you wedged in between these two insipid creatures? The romantic pairing in this book makes you feel like that. And they are in their mid to late 30s. Criminals.
♠ "At this point in the tale, it is possible this author might be on the receiving end of some frustration. Perhaps accused of not being more forthcoming with respect to their identity."
Literally no one cares bro...
♠ An omelet cannot be made without breaking a few eggs.
Oh my god not this fucking needle drop. Keep Succession references out of this stupid book.
July 26, 2025
I love the cover of Park Avenue, a rich people behaving badly story. Jia Song was recently promoted to junior partner at her law firm and gets assigned to a new case, managing the Park family’s dispute surrounding their family fortune and business empire.
The 3 adult Park siblings don’t exactly get along with each other. Each of them has different ideas about the future of the business yet they are united in a battle against their father. Tensions are running high and Jia has her hands full, up against a time crunch. If this case goes well, Jia may be promoted to senior partner already, another motivator for her.
I wanted to love the story as much as I loved the cover but unfortunately, didn’t. Jia’s interactions with another character felt immature, and while the story moved at a good pace, the repetition in characters’ conversations and feelings toward each other seemed to slow it down. I found the mysterious narrator’s POV throughout the book unnecessary and could have done without it. I appreciated Jia’s reflection regarding if the life she was working so hard to have was really the one she wanted, however, as a whole, Park Avenue didn’t quite deliver.
The 3 adult Park siblings don’t exactly get along with each other. Each of them has different ideas about the future of the business yet they are united in a battle against their father. Tensions are running high and Jia has her hands full, up against a time crunch. If this case goes well, Jia may be promoted to senior partner already, another motivator for her.
I wanted to love the story as much as I loved the cover but unfortunately, didn’t. Jia’s interactions with another character felt immature, and while the story moved at a good pace, the repetition in characters’ conversations and feelings toward each other seemed to slow it down. I found the mysterious narrator’s POV throughout the book unnecessary and could have done without it. I appreciated Jia’s reflection regarding if the life she was working so hard to have was really the one she wanted, however, as a whole, Park Avenue didn’t quite deliver.
June 29, 2025
"A young lawyer who gets pulled in to manage a crisis with her firm's biggest client, a family whose Korean beauty brand is worth a billion dollars, pitched as CRAZY RICH ASIANS meets SUCCESSION"
I completely agree with how this was pitched and I was there for all of it! Jia Song is a strong female character whose law firm gives her the Park account to prove herself for advancement. She gets pulled into an uber-elite world where Birkin bags, quick trips to Paris, and private fashion shows are as normal as a trip to Starbucks. Jia is given the task of finding billions of dollars that the Park patriarch - estranged from the family - has been hiding from them and keeping from Jenni Park and their adult children.
This is a very well-written look at class, ambition, succession, career, romance, and getting what you want out of life. It also shows that sometimes there is a better plan for us than what we want for ourselves. Highly recommend adding this one to your beach bag or vacation reading.
I completely agree with how this was pitched and I was there for all of it! Jia Song is a strong female character whose law firm gives her the Park account to prove herself for advancement. She gets pulled into an uber-elite world where Birkin bags, quick trips to Paris, and private fashion shows are as normal as a trip to Starbucks. Jia is given the task of finding billions of dollars that the Park patriarch - estranged from the family - has been hiding from them and keeping from Jenni Park and their adult children.
This is a very well-written look at class, ambition, succession, career, romance, and getting what you want out of life. It also shows that sometimes there is a better plan for us than what we want for ourselves. Highly recommend adding this one to your beach bag or vacation reading.
March 3, 2025
4.5 stars. Loved it! Such a fabulous book.
Read
May 25, 2025Renee Ahdieh's first adult novel and something very different from what she's written before! Park Avenue is contemporary fiction about a Korean-American woman who has just made junior partner at her law firm assigned to clients from a super wealthy (and super messy!) Korean-American family.
The mom is dying of cancer, the dad is divorcing her to be with his much younger pregnant mistress, and the kids want legal help because he's trying to hide the majority of his wealth in order to keep their rightful inheritance from them. And the kids have their own messy conflicts to contend with. Jia Song is thrust into the center of this elite family drama, whisked away on private jets to luxurious destinations. It's interesting and keeps you entertained along the way. It's periodically interrupted by a narrator a la Lady Whistledown, which is an unusual choice. The audio narration is great- easy to listen to and fits the vibe of the book. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
The mom is dying of cancer, the dad is divorcing her to be with his much younger pregnant mistress, and the kids want legal help because he's trying to hide the majority of his wealth in order to keep their rightful inheritance from them. And the kids have their own messy conflicts to contend with. Jia Song is thrust into the center of this elite family drama, whisked away on private jets to luxurious destinations. It's interesting and keeps you entertained along the way. It's periodically interrupted by a narrator a la Lady Whistledown, which is an unusual choice. The audio narration is great- easy to listen to and fits the vibe of the book. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
March 13, 2025
I liked this book way more than I expected to; the story builds itself immediately on the main character’s carnal desire for money/status/wealth, and I wasn’t sure Ahdieh was going to convince me. But then she subverts the rags to riches disney princess story and hits me with a grandiose yet snarky narrator who straddles the line between gossip girl diary entries and detective fiction—and who can wax poetic like nobody’s business. I admit; I was wooed by the latin words and the effort of crafting the narrative in a very particular way, carefully laying each breadcrumb.
This novel was a big undertaking, but Ahdieh approaches it with a lot of nuance. I only really had a few qualms. Like what’s up with fiction these days relying so heavily on therapy to guide character growth? I do think that Ahdieh tries to unsettle and challenge this at points, but still, it feels like having a therapist present has become a prerequisite in a lot of contemporary novels. I can forgive this and its neat, platitudinous ending because Ahdieh never sacrifices the story. I was hooked all the way through. I can even tell you the exact moment (though I won’t spoil the scene, it’s on page 211) that I had it all figured out. All in all, it’s quite clever, in only the way a gripping story can be.
My first goodread’s giveaway! A resounding success, I think.
This novel was a big undertaking, but Ahdieh approaches it with a lot of nuance. I only really had a few qualms. Like what’s up with fiction these days relying so heavily on therapy to guide character growth? I do think that Ahdieh tries to unsettle and challenge this at points, but still, it feels like having a therapist present has become a prerequisite in a lot of contemporary novels. I can forgive this and its neat, platitudinous ending because Ahdieh never sacrifices the story. I was hooked all the way through. I can even tell you the exact moment (though I won’t spoil the scene, it’s on page 211) that I had it all figured out. All in all, it’s quite clever, in only the way a gripping story can be.
My first goodread’s giveaway! A resounding success, I think.
June 12, 2025
A fun, rich people behaving badly tale swirling with family drama.. and a thriller-mystery-light on the romance, all rolled into one. It’s entertaining, and I really enjoyed how Korean culture intertwined with the story. A solid 4 stars. Pub. 6/3/25
August 1, 2025
4.5 stars
“Painful words always find a place to land, Gail would say.” Be sure to send them down the drain before they dig their nails into you.”
If I had been browsing a bookstore, this beautiful cover would have caught my eye, but honestly i’d probably read the synopsis and put it back on the shelf. Thankfully, I heard it recommended on a podcast that I love. I needed something lighter for vacation and boy did it really surprise me. Yes, it is a story about rich people behaving badly, but it has more “meat” in the story I guess you’d say. And, I never expected for passages to have me tearing up on the beach. I loved this story so much and highlighted a ton of passages. I highly recommend it if you’re needing a lighter read, but still crave some depth in your stories.
“ Jia’s favorite places to visit in the world were ones like this. Places where people wished to live their entire lives, as if the soil had seeped into their bones.”
“Painful words always find a place to land, Gail would say.” Be sure to send them down the drain before they dig their nails into you.”
If I had been browsing a bookstore, this beautiful cover would have caught my eye, but honestly i’d probably read the synopsis and put it back on the shelf. Thankfully, I heard it recommended on a podcast that I love. I needed something lighter for vacation and boy did it really surprise me. Yes, it is a story about rich people behaving badly, but it has more “meat” in the story I guess you’d say. And, I never expected for passages to have me tearing up on the beach. I loved this story so much and highlighted a ton of passages. I highly recommend it if you’re needing a lighter read, but still crave some depth in your stories.
“ Jia’s favorite places to visit in the world were ones like this. Places where people wished to live their entire lives, as if the soil had seeped into their bones.”
May 23, 2025
4.5 stars - i enjoyed this A LOT. this would be the perfect travel read or a book for a day at the beach - something about it feels like enjoying a really good movie or show. the comps of Succession x Crazy Rich Asians is so perfect and i reaaaaally missed Renée’s writing 🫶🏽🫶🏽🥹🥹
June 7, 2025
If you are on an island and this is the only book there it would be fine to read. But it reads like a YA book and for some parts I felt embarrassed I was reading this book. On the plus side the plot was a mystery with twists and turns but unfortunately carried out by superficial and unlikeable characters.
June 16, 2025
Park Avenue follows Jia Song, a sharp-witted Korean-American attorney who has clawed her way from her family's Lower East Side bodega to the prestigious halls of Whitman Volker law firm. When she's tasked with managing a crisis for the billionaire Park family—owners of the mega-successful Korean beauty empire Mirae—Jia finds herself thrust into a world where family loyalty and corporate greed intertwine like poison ivy around a mansion's facade.
Character Architecture: Strength in Complexity
The Protagonist's Journey
Jia Song emerges as Ahdieh's most nuanced protagonist to date. Her character is constructed with the careful precision of an architect designing a skyscraper—every beam of her personality serves a structural purpose. The daughter of Korean immigrants, Jia carries the weight of generational expectations while navigating the predominantly white spaces of corporate law. Her obsession with luxury goods, particularly her coveted Hermès Birkin bag, serves as both character flaw and symbol of her deeper hunger for acceptance and security.
Ahdieh's portrayal of Jia's internal conflict between her Korean heritage and American ambitions feels authentic rather than performative. The author deftly weaves Korean language and cultural nuances throughout the narrative without resorting to exposition-heavy explanations, trusting her readers to follow the emotional undercurrents. Jia's relationship with her family—particularly the Sunday dinners that ground her amid the chaos—provides necessary breathing room in an otherwise relentless plot.
The Park Dynasty
The three Park siblings—Sora, Suzy, and Minsoo—function as a twisted mirror of Jia's own family dynamics. Each represents a different response to inherited trauma and wealth:
Sora, the ice-cold firstborn, embodies calculated control and emotional detachment
Suzy, the chaotic middle child, weaponizes unpredictability as both shield and sword
Minsoo, the youngest, masks vulnerability behind strategic thinking and protective instincts
Their dying mother Jenny Park serves as the story's moral compass, while their father Seven Park lurks as both patriarch and potential villain. Ahdieh excels at revealing these characters' layers gradually, like peeling an onion that makes you cry for reasons you don't initially understand.
Narrative Craftsmanship: Style and Structure
Ahdieh's prose has matured considerably since her YA works, adopting a more sophisticated rhythm that mirrors Jia's own evolution throughout the story. The author employs an interesting structural device—alternating between Jia's perspective and an omniscient narrator who occasionally breaks the fourth wall with commentary that feels both classical and contemporary.
The chapter titles deserve special mention, ranging from Latin legal terms ("Alea Iacta Est") to pop culture references ("Kangnam Style"), creating a linguistic map that reflects the novel's themes of cultural duality and class mobility. This attention to detail extends to Ahdieh's handling of Korean dialogue and cultural references, which feel organic rather than inserted for diversity points.
However, the narrative occasionally suffers from pacing issues. The middle section, particularly during the globe-trotting investigation sequences, sometimes feels more like an expensive travelogue than essential plot development. While the exotic locations—from Edinburgh castles to Cayman Islands banks—add glamour, they occasionally distract from the more compelling family dynamics at the story's core.
Thematic Depth: Money, Identity, and Justice
The Cost of Ambition
Park Avenue functions as both a family saga and a meditation on the price of the American Dream. Jia's journey from bodega to boardroom serves as a microcosm of immigrant experience, but Ahdieh avoids simple triumph narratives. Instead, she interrogates what we sacrifice in pursuit of success—relationships, authenticity, moral clarity.
The novel's exploration of wealth inequality feels particularly timely. The Park family's billion-dollar empire exists alongside Jia's parents' modest bodega, creating a stark contrast that the author uses to examine how money shapes not just lifestyle but fundamental worldview. The question of what constitutes "enough" permeates every character's arc.
Cultural Identity and Belonging
One of the novel's strongest elements is its nuanced portrayal of Korean-American identity. Ahdieh skillfully depicts the complexity of existing between cultures—how Jia can be simultaneously "too Korean" for her corporate environment and "too American" for traditional expectations. The use of Korean language and customs throughout the text feels natural and necessary rather than ornamental.
The relationship between Jia and Jenny Park becomes particularly powerful in this context. Both women navigate the intersection of Korean traditional values and American feminism, finding strength in their shared heritage while charting individual paths.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works
Character Development: Ahdieh's greatest strength lies in her ability to create complex, flawed characters who feel genuinely human. Even the antagonists possess understandable motivations and moments of vulnerability.
Cultural Authenticity: The portrayal of Korean-American experience avoids both stereotypes and idealization, presenting characters as individuals first, cultural representatives second.
Dialogue: The conversations feel natural and distinctive to each character, particularly the blend of Korean and English that reflects real bilingual family dynamics.
Atmospheric Detail: From the marble lobbies of Park Avenue co-ops to the cramped warmth of the Song family bodega, Ahdieh creates vivid, immersive settings.
Areas for Improvement
Plot Complexity: The mystery elements sometimes feel overly complicated for their own sake. The web of financial schemes and family secrets occasionally obscures rather than illuminates character motivations.
Romantic Subplot: The developing relationship between Jia and Darius, while sweet, feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to the richly detailed family dynamics. Their connection, though genuine, lacks the electric tension that made Ahdieh's YA romances so compelling.
Resolution: The climactic confrontation, while emotionally satisfying, resolves some plot threads too neatly. The legal and ethical implications of the characters' choices deserve more thorough exploration.
Final Verdict: A Promising Evolution
Park Avenue succeeds as both an engaging page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of identity, ambition, and family loyalty. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own complexity, Ahdieh's skill at character development and cultural authenticity carries the narrative through its weaker moments.
The novel's greatest achievement lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. Jia's choices—particularly in the climactic scenes—reflect the genuine moral complexity of adult life. Success comes with costs, justice isn't always legally defined, and family loyalty sometimes conflicts with personal ethics.
For readers of Ahdieh's YA work, Park Avenue represents a mature evolution that honors her strengths while expanding her range. For newcomers to her writing, it offers an accessible entry point into contemporary Korean-American literature that neither oversimplifies cultural identity nor sacrifices entertainment value for educational purpose.
Character Architecture: Strength in Complexity
The Protagonist's Journey
Jia Song emerges as Ahdieh's most nuanced protagonist to date. Her character is constructed with the careful precision of an architect designing a skyscraper—every beam of her personality serves a structural purpose. The daughter of Korean immigrants, Jia carries the weight of generational expectations while navigating the predominantly white spaces of corporate law. Her obsession with luxury goods, particularly her coveted Hermès Birkin bag, serves as both character flaw and symbol of her deeper hunger for acceptance and security.
Ahdieh's portrayal of Jia's internal conflict between her Korean heritage and American ambitions feels authentic rather than performative. The author deftly weaves Korean language and cultural nuances throughout the narrative without resorting to exposition-heavy explanations, trusting her readers to follow the emotional undercurrents. Jia's relationship with her family—particularly the Sunday dinners that ground her amid the chaos—provides necessary breathing room in an otherwise relentless plot.
The Park Dynasty
The three Park siblings—Sora, Suzy, and Minsoo—function as a twisted mirror of Jia's own family dynamics. Each represents a different response to inherited trauma and wealth:
Sora, the ice-cold firstborn, embodies calculated control and emotional detachment
Suzy, the chaotic middle child, weaponizes unpredictability as both shield and sword
Minsoo, the youngest, masks vulnerability behind strategic thinking and protective instincts
Their dying mother Jenny Park serves as the story's moral compass, while their father Seven Park lurks as both patriarch and potential villain. Ahdieh excels at revealing these characters' layers gradually, like peeling an onion that makes you cry for reasons you don't initially understand.
Narrative Craftsmanship: Style and Structure
Ahdieh's prose has matured considerably since her YA works, adopting a more sophisticated rhythm that mirrors Jia's own evolution throughout the story. The author employs an interesting structural device—alternating between Jia's perspective and an omniscient narrator who occasionally breaks the fourth wall with commentary that feels both classical and contemporary.
The chapter titles deserve special mention, ranging from Latin legal terms ("Alea Iacta Est") to pop culture references ("Kangnam Style"), creating a linguistic map that reflects the novel's themes of cultural duality and class mobility. This attention to detail extends to Ahdieh's handling of Korean dialogue and cultural references, which feel organic rather than inserted for diversity points.
However, the narrative occasionally suffers from pacing issues. The middle section, particularly during the globe-trotting investigation sequences, sometimes feels more like an expensive travelogue than essential plot development. While the exotic locations—from Edinburgh castles to Cayman Islands banks—add glamour, they occasionally distract from the more compelling family dynamics at the story's core.
Thematic Depth: Money, Identity, and Justice
The Cost of Ambition
Park Avenue functions as both a family saga and a meditation on the price of the American Dream. Jia's journey from bodega to boardroom serves as a microcosm of immigrant experience, but Ahdieh avoids simple triumph narratives. Instead, she interrogates what we sacrifice in pursuit of success—relationships, authenticity, moral clarity.
The novel's exploration of wealth inequality feels particularly timely. The Park family's billion-dollar empire exists alongside Jia's parents' modest bodega, creating a stark contrast that the author uses to examine how money shapes not just lifestyle but fundamental worldview. The question of what constitutes "enough" permeates every character's arc.
Cultural Identity and Belonging
One of the novel's strongest elements is its nuanced portrayal of Korean-American identity. Ahdieh skillfully depicts the complexity of existing between cultures—how Jia can be simultaneously "too Korean" for her corporate environment and "too American" for traditional expectations. The use of Korean language and customs throughout the text feels natural and necessary rather than ornamental.
The relationship between Jia and Jenny Park becomes particularly powerful in this context. Both women navigate the intersection of Korean traditional values and American feminism, finding strength in their shared heritage while charting individual paths.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works
Character Development: Ahdieh's greatest strength lies in her ability to create complex, flawed characters who feel genuinely human. Even the antagonists possess understandable motivations and moments of vulnerability.
Cultural Authenticity: The portrayal of Korean-American experience avoids both stereotypes and idealization, presenting characters as individuals first, cultural representatives second.
Dialogue: The conversations feel natural and distinctive to each character, particularly the blend of Korean and English that reflects real bilingual family dynamics.
Atmospheric Detail: From the marble lobbies of Park Avenue co-ops to the cramped warmth of the Song family bodega, Ahdieh creates vivid, immersive settings.
Areas for Improvement
Plot Complexity: The mystery elements sometimes feel overly complicated for their own sake. The web of financial schemes and family secrets occasionally obscures rather than illuminates character motivations.
Romantic Subplot: The developing relationship between Jia and Darius, while sweet, feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to the richly detailed family dynamics. Their connection, though genuine, lacks the electric tension that made Ahdieh's YA romances so compelling.
Resolution: The climactic confrontation, while emotionally satisfying, resolves some plot threads too neatly. The legal and ethical implications of the characters' choices deserve more thorough exploration.
Final Verdict: A Promising Evolution
Park Avenue succeeds as both an engaging page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of identity, ambition, and family loyalty. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own complexity, Ahdieh's skill at character development and cultural authenticity carries the narrative through its weaker moments.
The novel's greatest achievement lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. Jia's choices—particularly in the climactic scenes—reflect the genuine moral complexity of adult life. Success comes with costs, justice isn't always legally defined, and family loyalty sometimes conflicts with personal ethics.
For readers of Ahdieh's YA work, Park Avenue represents a mature evolution that honors her strengths while expanding her range. For newcomers to her writing, it offers an accessible entry point into contemporary Korean-American literature that neither oversimplifies cultural identity nor sacrifices entertainment value for educational purpose.
July 27, 2025
This book was a lot of fun. It was the perfect mix of the ultra wealthy jet set lifestyle and rich families behaving badly.
Jia Song was born to South Korean immigrants that came to the US with nothing and opened a bodega to support their family. Jia dreams of the day when she gets promoted to a top paying senior partner position at her prestigious New York law firm.
She’s assigned to a new case partly because she speaks Korean and partly because she’s a bad ass. The Park family are multi billionaires that own a high end beauty brand (I can’t help but think about The Kardashians). This family is Korean and full of family drama.
Jia is quickly swept up in their mission to take down their lying father. Shes flying on their personal jet to locations such a Seoul, Greece and Paris! She’s guzzling $25k bottles of wine and eating amazing spreads of food.
The food in this book was mouth watering. It might as well have been another character. My cravings for Asian cuisine were out of the world while reading this book.
The novel was chock full of secrets, twists, family drama and delightful gossip. This book also had heartwarming family moments and lessons about tradition, loyalty and values.
I really enjoyed this book! Cheers to her next adult novel!
Jia Song was born to South Korean immigrants that came to the US with nothing and opened a bodega to support their family. Jia dreams of the day when she gets promoted to a top paying senior partner position at her prestigious New York law firm.
She’s assigned to a new case partly because she speaks Korean and partly because she’s a bad ass. The Park family are multi billionaires that own a high end beauty brand (I can’t help but think about The Kardashians). This family is Korean and full of family drama.
Jia is quickly swept up in their mission to take down their lying father. Shes flying on their personal jet to locations such a Seoul, Greece and Paris! She’s guzzling $25k bottles of wine and eating amazing spreads of food.
The food in this book was mouth watering. It might as well have been another character. My cravings for Asian cuisine were out of the world while reading this book.
The novel was chock full of secrets, twists, family drama and delightful gossip. This book also had heartwarming family moments and lessons about tradition, loyalty and values.
I really enjoyed this book! Cheers to her next adult novel!
January 18, 2025
Park Avenue
Jia Song was the daughter of hard working Korean immigrants. She had worked her way through Columbia Law school and to a job at one of the top NYC law firms. Her hard work was rewarded by a junior partner position in the firm.
One morning a senior partner asked her to take a case involving the wealthy Mirae family. When she met the children of the Korean family, she learned that they did not get along but were united in thwarting their father. Their father was divorcing their dying mother and offering her less money than they thought she deserved. It was assumed that he was hiding funds in secret offshore accounts.
Jane’s job was the find the true value of the family wealth, estimated at a billion dollars, and to assure that the mother got a fair settlement. Complicating matters was the advanced pregnancy of the father’s girlfriend.
Jia was given one month by the children to solve the problem and assure them that their dying mother gets her fair share of the family wealth. The book has a surprising twist at the end.
This is a classic tale of an upwardly mobile child of immigrants who works hard to succeed. However the scattering of Korean phrases made it sometimes difficult to follow. I did enjoy the story.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jia Song was the daughter of hard working Korean immigrants. She had worked her way through Columbia Law school and to a job at one of the top NYC law firms. Her hard work was rewarded by a junior partner position in the firm.
One morning a senior partner asked her to take a case involving the wealthy Mirae family. When she met the children of the Korean family, she learned that they did not get along but were united in thwarting their father. Their father was divorcing their dying mother and offering her less money than they thought she deserved. It was assumed that he was hiding funds in secret offshore accounts.
Jane’s job was the find the true value of the family wealth, estimated at a billion dollars, and to assure that the mother got a fair settlement. Complicating matters was the advanced pregnancy of the father’s girlfriend.
Jia was given one month by the children to solve the problem and assure them that their dying mother gets her fair share of the family wealth. The book has a surprising twist at the end.
This is a classic tale of an upwardly mobile child of immigrants who works hard to succeed. However the scattering of Korean phrases made it sometimes difficult to follow. I did enjoy the story.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2025
I'm a sucker for a rich people behaving badly story; and when this was getting comps to Crazy Rich Asians I knew I wanted to dive in- but it doesn't have the same tone/humor of CRA. I enjoyed it. But it was pretty basic.
January 1, 2026
i love a good story about a majorly chaotic family.
July 8, 2025
i think i’m being harsh with this review cuz it was a fine book but i’m just annoyed that it was boring and made me feeling nothing despite having so much potential
August 7, 2025
It has been a while since I have read a genuinely awful book. This was so bad. Stay safe out there, guys.
September 13, 2025
This was juicy fun! Who could we trust?! The budding maybe romance! The Korean culture! Outrageously rich people who are so MISERABLE and behaving badly! I liked Jia and how this whole process made her reevaluate what she wanted out of life. I hated the small chapters breaking the third wall, but otherwise enjoyed.
June 9, 2025
Loved!!! I will say it was a slow start for me but I’m glad I stuck with it. This is like Crazy Rich Asians meets Suits. So good!
July 9, 2025
Okay this one was a mess but why did I end up loving it??? I was drawn to this book because I heard it was succession meets crazy rich asians and it 100% was. The first 50% was incredibly hard to get into but I finished the last 50% in 2 days because I needed to know the ending. Definitely a mediocre book but would be a fantastic movie or show series @netflix
July 26, 2025
Rich people behaving badly! But they’re are of Korean heritage! And they’re in manhattan!
I find myself drawn to “adult debut” books- more mature subject matter written by those skilled at a satisfying happy ending.
Renée Ahdieh’s "Park Avenue" is a captivating tale that blends the allure of romance with the complexities of family dynamics and personal ambition. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s vibrant landscape, Ahdieh invites readers into a world where love and loyalty are put to the test.
The narrative centers around two protagonists whose lives intersect in the bustling streets of Manhattan. Ahdieh's keen eye for detail brings the city to life, immersing us in its hustle and bustle while also revealing the quieter, more intimate moments that define the characters’ journeys. The pacing is expertly crafted, allowing the tension to build as the plot unfolds, leading to a satisfying crescendo that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
One of the standout elements of "Park Avenue" is Ahdieh’s ability to develop multifaceted characters. Each individual is flawed yet relatable, making their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, filled with witty banter and heartfelt exchanges that will leave readers rooting for their love story.
However, while the plot is engaging, some aspects may feel familiar to seasoned readers of the genre. It’s about 75 pages too long. Ahdieh navigates themes of privilege and ambition, which can sometimes tread into predictable territory. Yet, her unique voice and the rich emotional landscape she creates elevate the narrative, making it a worthwhile read.
Overall, "Park Avenue" shines with its blend of romance, complexity, and a touch of glamour. Ahdieh’s storytelling prowess is on full display, and fans of contemporary romance will find much to love in this enchanting tale. With its mix of heart and ambition, this novel earns a solid four stars. Whether you’re looking for a captivating escape or a poignant exploration of love, "Park Avenue" delivers on both fronts.
The ending was a surprise and a delight.
I find myself drawn to “adult debut” books- more mature subject matter written by those skilled at a satisfying happy ending.
Renée Ahdieh’s "Park Avenue" is a captivating tale that blends the allure of romance with the complexities of family dynamics and personal ambition. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s vibrant landscape, Ahdieh invites readers into a world where love and loyalty are put to the test.
The narrative centers around two protagonists whose lives intersect in the bustling streets of Manhattan. Ahdieh's keen eye for detail brings the city to life, immersing us in its hustle and bustle while also revealing the quieter, more intimate moments that define the characters’ journeys. The pacing is expertly crafted, allowing the tension to build as the plot unfolds, leading to a satisfying crescendo that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
One of the standout elements of "Park Avenue" is Ahdieh’s ability to develop multifaceted characters. Each individual is flawed yet relatable, making their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, filled with witty banter and heartfelt exchanges that will leave readers rooting for their love story.
However, while the plot is engaging, some aspects may feel familiar to seasoned readers of the genre. It’s about 75 pages too long. Ahdieh navigates themes of privilege and ambition, which can sometimes tread into predictable territory. Yet, her unique voice and the rich emotional landscape she creates elevate the narrative, making it a worthwhile read.
Overall, "Park Avenue" shines with its blend of romance, complexity, and a touch of glamour. Ahdieh’s storytelling prowess is on full display, and fans of contemporary romance will find much to love in this enchanting tale. With its mix of heart and ambition, this novel earns a solid four stars. Whether you’re looking for a captivating escape or a poignant exploration of love, "Park Avenue" delivers on both fronts.
The ending was a surprise and a delight.
June 28, 2025
Park Avenue tells the story of the Parks -a Korean beauty brand billionaire family who reside on Park Avenue. The families 3 adult children are suing their patriarch father for leaving their mother (who has terminal cancer) and basically hiding the family fortune in undisclosed accounts for his new family to reap.
They hire lawyer Jia Song, also Korean, to represent them in uncovering the money. Winning this case would be exactly what Jia needs under her belt to become a Sr partner at her companies firm.
When I originally heard about this book I thought it would be a bit more serious than it was. I’m not a real fan of romance or chic lit with fluff. Although, this book wasn’t necessarily either of those, I don’t think I was the best reader for this one. It was fun and the writing was very descriptive for sure but I wanted more.
It would be a fun summer beach read for anyone looking to step inside the world of the elite for a weekend.
They hire lawyer Jia Song, also Korean, to represent them in uncovering the money. Winning this case would be exactly what Jia needs under her belt to become a Sr partner at her companies firm.
When I originally heard about this book I thought it would be a bit more serious than it was. I’m not a real fan of romance or chic lit with fluff. Although, this book wasn’t necessarily either of those, I don’t think I was the best reader for this one. It was fun and the writing was very descriptive for sure but I wanted more.
It would be a fun summer beach read for anyone looking to step inside the world of the elite for a weekend.
September 17, 2025
2.5 stars It is rare that I go below 3 stars, but I just can't justify giving this book 3 stars. It disappointed at every turn. A story about ridiculously rich but unhappy people is always risky since it is hard to make them sympathetic, but the characters in this book were so unlikeable and so unrelatable. Even though the story arc was predictable with questioning the value of so much wealth, the amount of detail put into describing every luxury item was so excessive that you had to question if the author was trying to impress you. There were occasional "asides," chapters from an observing character whose identity you do not learn til the end, and they just did not work for me. They felt gimmicky and did not really add to the story. If half of the effort of describing luxury items had been put into character development, this might have been a good book. As it was, though, I was seriously underwhelmed and would have a hard time recommending it.
August 30, 2025
Disappointed in the author of one of my favorite YA series !!
This really boils down to me not liking any of the characters. Most of them were obscenely wealthy and didn’t really have any character growth, and the ending was wrapped up nicely with a bow, trying to convince the reader that they’re GOOD billionaires because they do charity. Jia, as the main POV character, was annoying, and kinda didn’t seem to be a good lawyer? I was not a fan of the romance either.
I really didn’t like the gossip girl esque mystery narrator, and the reveal of it was kinda a flop.
Despite this being supposedly a mystery with high stakes among the ultra powerful and wealthy, I was bored and almost quit at like 80%.
Maybe I’m being too harsh here, because I definitely have read worse 2 star books, but it just really fell flat for me and I was really disappointed with Ahdieh :(
This really boils down to me not liking any of the characters. Most of them were obscenely wealthy and didn’t really have any character growth, and the ending was wrapped up nicely with a bow, trying to convince the reader that they’re GOOD billionaires because they do charity. Jia, as the main POV character, was annoying, and kinda didn’t seem to be a good lawyer? I was not a fan of the romance either.
I really didn’t like the gossip girl esque mystery narrator, and the reveal of it was kinda a flop.
Despite this being supposedly a mystery with high stakes among the ultra powerful and wealthy, I was bored and almost quit at like 80%.
Maybe I’m being too harsh here, because I definitely have read worse 2 star books, but it just really fell flat for me and I was really disappointed with Ahdieh :(
June 16, 2025
3-4 stars
This has been billed as Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians. Accurate. Which had me continually asking myself throughout, Why am I reading this? Good question. I almost didn’t make it through the first chapter. Eye roll supreme. But, I had to see the mystery of it through. And, I ended up enjoying it for the most part.
It’s definitely a bubblegum read for Summer. If that’s your jam, dive in!
This has been billed as Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians. Accurate. Which had me continually asking myself throughout, Why am I reading this? Good question. I almost didn’t make it through the first chapter. Eye roll supreme. But, I had to see the mystery of it through. And, I ended up enjoying it for the most part.
It’s definitely a bubblegum read for Summer. If that’s your jam, dive in!
May 10, 2025
This is my definition of a perfect, frothy summer read. It’s Gossip Girl meets Crazy Rich Asians. The characters are spoiled and flawed, but the protagonist grounds the otherwise outrageous and opulent cast of characters.
It’s a popcorn book, but an artisanal popcorn book at that.
It’s a popcorn book, but an artisanal popcorn book at that.
July 13, 2025
One of the worst books I’ve read in a very long time.
October 29, 2025
It's giving slop.
September 24, 2025
What a dazzling, drama-packed debut! Set against a backdrop of extravagant wealth and high society, this novel offers a sharp, refreshing twist on the classic “rich people behaving badly” trope.
It skillfully explores complex themes—family dynamics, betrayal, loyalty, ambition, class, and inheritance—striking just the right balance between biting humor and glossy glamour.
The character development is impressively nuanced, but it’s the unnamed narrator interludes that truly steal the show. With their enigmatic tone and razor-sharp social commentary, they deliver a behind-the-scenes perspective that’s both riveting and deliciously reminiscent of Gossip Girl, utterly addictive.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads
It skillfully explores complex themes—family dynamics, betrayal, loyalty, ambition, class, and inheritance—striking just the right balance between biting humor and glossy glamour.
The character development is impressively nuanced, but it’s the unnamed narrator interludes that truly steal the show. With their enigmatic tone and razor-sharp social commentary, they deliver a behind-the-scenes perspective that’s both riveting and deliciously reminiscent of Gossip Girl, utterly addictive.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads
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