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The Chinese Lady
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Expected 8 Sep 26As rich in detail and emotion as Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club and Lisa See's Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, but with an exciting structure that reinvents the genre, Bo Wang’s gorgeous and immersive debut historical novel immortalizes the life of the first Chinese woman to be brought to the United States in the 1800s.
Little Sparrow, Julia, Afong Moy, Madame Moy, The Chinese Lady, were her many names . . . but her true name has been lost to time.
In 1834 Afong Moy was brought to New York by two merchants as a live exhibit. Rising to fame as the first Chinese female in the United States, she became an oddity among curios as Americans marveled at the opportunity to observe her astonishing little feet, broken and bound to resemble lotuses.
As the story moves from 1820s Canton to P.T. Barnum’s American Museum, to Gold Rush San Francisco, three women introduce us to her many names. Her mother calls her Little Sparrow and sells her to a captain who sails her to New York. The captain’s wife names her Julia and “graciously” treats her as her own. And when she is shunted off to P.T Barnum, her fellow human exhibitions call her China. Eventually arriving in San Francisco's Chinatown, she will at long last claim her name and her own story.
Combining archival research and brilliantly imaginative storytelling, Bo Wang masterfully fills in history’s gaps to weave a powerful narrative of survival in the face of hardship, tragedy, and betrayal. Told through the eyes of those around her; mirroring her life as an object on display, until we finally see the world through her own eyes.
Little Sparrow, Julia, Afong Moy, Madame Moy, The Chinese Lady, were her many names . . . but her true name has been lost to time.
In 1834 Afong Moy was brought to New York by two merchants as a live exhibit. Rising to fame as the first Chinese female in the United States, she became an oddity among curios as Americans marveled at the opportunity to observe her astonishing little feet, broken and bound to resemble lotuses.
As the story moves from 1820s Canton to P.T. Barnum’s American Museum, to Gold Rush San Francisco, three women introduce us to her many names. Her mother calls her Little Sparrow and sells her to a captain who sails her to New York. The captain’s wife names her Julia and “graciously” treats her as her own. And when she is shunted off to P.T Barnum, her fellow human exhibitions call her China. Eventually arriving in San Francisco's Chinatown, she will at long last claim her name and her own story.
Combining archival research and brilliantly imaginative storytelling, Bo Wang masterfully fills in history’s gaps to weave a powerful narrative of survival in the face of hardship, tragedy, and betrayal. Told through the eyes of those around her; mirroring her life as an object on display, until we finally see the world through her own eyes.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
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June 18, 2026PUBLISH DATE: Sep 08, 2026
BOOK TITLE: The Chinese Lady
AUTHOR: Bo Wang
NARRATOR: Jeena Yi; Cassandra Campbell; Bahni Turpin
PUBLISHER: HarperAudio Adult
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION:
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
BOOK TITLE: The Chinese Lady
AUTHOR: Bo Wang
NARRATOR: Jeena Yi; Cassandra Campbell; Bahni Turpin
PUBLISHER: HarperAudio Adult
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION:
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 28, 2026
Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 Stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book has several points of view, but follows the story of a woman named Little Sparrow/Julia/China/Mrs. Moy. The beginning of the book was a little hard to follow as it introduced a lot of people all at once. This was hard because it was the early 1800's in Imperial China - so there were many women in the household. This first part focused on Pearl who was Little Sparrow's mother. It shows the cutthroat nature of women in a Chinese household at that time as they all were vying for the attention of the man of the house. In the end you see the tragedy of how so many aristocratic houses at that time fell due to the opium trade or addiction and how women were just a commodity.
The second section was in the voice of Meg, the wife of a sailor who brought Little Sparrow now named Julia to the US. Meg was supposed to be the chaperone of Julia while she was part of an exhibit of Chinese goods. Meg used Julia as a way to get her access to people and events and show off her skills as an educator and quasi-mother. Meg had a suffocating relationship with her husband. As with the first section of the book, you see the sad plight of women as they don't have any say in their lives and had to depend on men for their livelihood.
The third section is from the viewpoint of Joice, a woman with PT Barnum's "Museum". Here Julia is now named China though this felt much more like Joice's story than China's. This section seemed a little different than the rest of the book as it focused on the misfits that made up the Museum and how Barnum was always out to make money off of scandal or anything novel.
The final section China becomes Mrs. Moy and reinvents herself into a Madam in San Francisco with the help of her business partner Maria whom she met in Santa Fe. It seemed a little farfetched that she could have traveled so far by herself safely in those times. Though she apparently took the money that was owed her by Barnum so maybe that helped. This section goes into how it was in San Francisco during the gold rush era and the issues the Chinese faced. It was interesting to see the same mistakes she made as her mother and Meg made , but she eventually able to see past that in her dealings with Lily. One of the bigger points that you see over and over is how women can be eager find solace in their own situations by taking pleasure in the unhappiness of other women.
This would make a great book club pick as there is a lot to discuss. The author uses rich vocabulary that is refreshing to see. The writing seemed a little disjointed in the beginning, but either I got used to it, or it evened out a bit. It was an overall good read though you could argue that the author covered almost too many topics for one book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book has several points of view, but follows the story of a woman named Little Sparrow/Julia/China/Mrs. Moy. The beginning of the book was a little hard to follow as it introduced a lot of people all at once. This was hard because it was the early 1800's in Imperial China - so there were many women in the household. This first part focused on Pearl who was Little Sparrow's mother. It shows the cutthroat nature of women in a Chinese household at that time as they all were vying for the attention of the man of the house. In the end you see the tragedy of how so many aristocratic houses at that time fell due to the opium trade or addiction and how women were just a commodity.
The second section was in the voice of Meg, the wife of a sailor who brought Little Sparrow now named Julia to the US. Meg was supposed to be the chaperone of Julia while she was part of an exhibit of Chinese goods. Meg used Julia as a way to get her access to people and events and show off her skills as an educator and quasi-mother. Meg had a suffocating relationship with her husband. As with the first section of the book, you see the sad plight of women as they don't have any say in their lives and had to depend on men for their livelihood.
The third section is from the viewpoint of Joice, a woman with PT Barnum's "Museum". Here Julia is now named China though this felt much more like Joice's story than China's. This section seemed a little different than the rest of the book as it focused on the misfits that made up the Museum and how Barnum was always out to make money off of scandal or anything novel.
The final section China becomes Mrs. Moy and reinvents herself into a Madam in San Francisco with the help of her business partner Maria whom she met in Santa Fe. It seemed a little farfetched that she could have traveled so far by herself safely in those times. Though she apparently took the money that was owed her by Barnum so maybe that helped. This section goes into how it was in San Francisco during the gold rush era and the issues the Chinese faced. It was interesting to see the same mistakes she made as her mother and Meg made , but she eventually able to see past that in her dealings with Lily. One of the bigger points that you see over and over is how women can be eager find solace in their own situations by taking pleasure in the unhappiness of other women.
This would make a great book club pick as there is a lot to discuss. The author uses rich vocabulary that is refreshing to see. The writing seemed a little disjointed in the beginning, but either I got used to it, or it evened out a bit. It was an overall good read though you could argue that the author covered almost too many topics for one book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for a chance to review this stunning debut ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In 1834, Afong Moy was brought to New York by two merchants and placed on display for paying audiences who came to marvel at her bound feet, her silk garments, her foreignness. She was given many names over the years: Little Sparrow, Julia, Madame Moy, The Chinese Lady. Her true name, the one she was born with, has been lost entirely. Wang builds her novel around this haunting absence, moving from 1820s Canton to P.T. Barnum's American Museum to Gold Rush San Francisco, tracing Afong Moy's life through the eyes of those who witnessed it, until the narrative finally grants her something history never did: her own perspective, her own words, her own interiority.
The structure is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Wang mirrors Afong Moy's experience of being seen but never known by filtering her story through outside observers first, before gradually moving inward. It is a formal choice that transforms the act of reading into something quietly radical. By the time Afong Moy is allowed to speak for herself, the reader feels the weight of every year she spent being watched without being understood.
Wang's prose is meticulous and emotionally restrained in all the right places, which makes the moments of grief land with considerable force. She combines archival research with imaginative precision, never sensationalizing what was already a brutal reality. This is historical fiction that trusts its subject. It does not need to dramatize the horror of what Afong Moy endured because the facts, rendered clearly and with care, are devastating enough.
*The Chinese Lady* is a luminous, necessary debut. It immortalizes a woman whom history chose to erase, and it does so with the kind of quiet fury that stays with you long after the final page.
In 1834, Afong Moy was brought to New York by two merchants and placed on display for paying audiences who came to marvel at her bound feet, her silk garments, her foreignness. She was given many names over the years: Little Sparrow, Julia, Madame Moy, The Chinese Lady. Her true name, the one she was born with, has been lost entirely. Wang builds her novel around this haunting absence, moving from 1820s Canton to P.T. Barnum's American Museum to Gold Rush San Francisco, tracing Afong Moy's life through the eyes of those who witnessed it, until the narrative finally grants her something history never did: her own perspective, her own words, her own interiority.
The structure is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Wang mirrors Afong Moy's experience of being seen but never known by filtering her story through outside observers first, before gradually moving inward. It is a formal choice that transforms the act of reading into something quietly radical. By the time Afong Moy is allowed to speak for herself, the reader feels the weight of every year she spent being watched without being understood.
Wang's prose is meticulous and emotionally restrained in all the right places, which makes the moments of grief land with considerable force. She combines archival research with imaginative precision, never sensationalizing what was already a brutal reality. This is historical fiction that trusts its subject. It does not need to dramatize the horror of what Afong Moy endured because the facts, rendered clearly and with care, are devastating enough.
*The Chinese Lady* is a luminous, necessary debut. It immortalizes a woman whom history chose to erase, and it does so with the kind of quiet fury that stays with you long after the final page.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaways and the publisher HarperVia. It's only my second time winning, but this story was completely in my preferred genre.
First, the cover tells the structure of the story, we glimpse a chinese woman but don't quite see her. That's how we see the main character in most of the book. We meet her first through her mother's eyes and she's Little Sparrow and unwanted daughter so unwanted that she is sold to an american company. The people running the company give her a chaperone in the wife of the sea captain that takes the renamed Julia to her new country; we see Julia through Margaret's eyes. I think I'll let you discover the other point of views by yourselves.
The book is based on the little we know of the first chinese woman to come to America, exhibited as an exotic marvel but her true name isn't even known now. I thought the author did a good job making this little known moment in history into a fully fleshed story. I liked Little Sparrow, Julia, China and Mrs. Moy; I always wanted to know where life would take her. I also appreciated the use of words kept in chinese characters throughout the book, made me use google translate when I couldn't figure it out, but I think it kept the spirit of foreignness to the front of the readers mind.
I liked the weaving of historical events in the narrative. The Opium Wars, the opening of America to Chinese immigration and the change in the laws it provoked, the Tongs and P.T. Barnum's museum.
I think if you like this book you also might appreciate The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang or Four Treasure of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang. Both of these books have themes in common with The Chinese Lady.
First, the cover tells the structure of the story, we glimpse a chinese woman but don't quite see her. That's how we see the main character in most of the book. We meet her first through her mother's eyes and she's Little Sparrow and unwanted daughter so unwanted that she is sold to an american company. The people running the company give her a chaperone in the wife of the sea captain that takes the renamed Julia to her new country; we see Julia through Margaret's eyes. I think I'll let you discover the other point of views by yourselves.
The book is based on the little we know of the first chinese woman to come to America, exhibited as an exotic marvel but her true name isn't even known now. I thought the author did a good job making this little known moment in history into a fully fleshed story. I liked Little Sparrow, Julia, China and Mrs. Moy; I always wanted to know where life would take her. I also appreciated the use of words kept in chinese characters throughout the book, made me use google translate when I couldn't figure it out, but I think it kept the spirit of foreignness to the front of the readers mind.
I liked the weaving of historical events in the narrative. The Opium Wars, the opening of America to Chinese immigration and the change in the laws it provoked, the Tongs and P.T. Barnum's museum.
I think if you like this book you also might appreciate The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang or Four Treasure of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang. Both of these books have themes in common with The Chinese Lady.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
"Everybody knew a mother and son's destinies were inextricably linked; his successes were directly proportional to her sacrifices. It was written into his blood and bone to feel gratitude and devotion toward her forever. But it went against nature and sensibility to similarly love a daughter who would only ever be a worry and a burden until one had pushed the responsibility of her onto somebody else."
Pearl is the second concubine of a wealthy merchant, third in line behind Big Wife, and Jade, the first concubine. Longing for a son to elevate her status in the household, Pearl instead gives birth to Little Sparrow, a daughter hungry for her mother's love and affection, but spurned because Pearl sees her as the obstacle preventing her from her desired son. Pearl shapes her physically with golden lotuses, or bound feet. She shapes her emotionally by withholding love and affection. Circumstances change within the family and Little Sparrow becomes Julia, the first Chinese lady in America. We follow her through various identities, from New York to San Francisco.
This is a story of family and what we owe to those we love. It's a story of belonging and identity.
I enjoyed this story very much and learning about a topic I'd known very little about before. This novel is beautifully written and one that I'll read again. My one criticism is that from time to time, there will be Chinese characters rather than the word. Most of the time I could guess the meaning by the context, but there were a few times I wasn't sure what the word or meaning was, which felt a little frustrating. Other times the Chinese word appeared in italics and I much preferred that to guessing what the characters meant.
Thank you to the author, Bo Wang, and Harper Via for this advance copy.
Pearl is the second concubine of a wealthy merchant, third in line behind Big Wife, and Jade, the first concubine. Longing for a son to elevate her status in the household, Pearl instead gives birth to Little Sparrow, a daughter hungry for her mother's love and affection, but spurned because Pearl sees her as the obstacle preventing her from her desired son. Pearl shapes her physically with golden lotuses, or bound feet. She shapes her emotionally by withholding love and affection. Circumstances change within the family and Little Sparrow becomes Julia, the first Chinese lady in America. We follow her through various identities, from New York to San Francisco.
This is a story of family and what we owe to those we love. It's a story of belonging and identity.
I enjoyed this story very much and learning about a topic I'd known very little about before. This novel is beautifully written and one that I'll read again. My one criticism is that from time to time, there will be Chinese characters rather than the word. Most of the time I could guess the meaning by the context, but there were a few times I wasn't sure what the word or meaning was, which felt a little frustrating. Other times the Chinese word appeared in italics and I much preferred that to guessing what the characters meant.
Thank you to the author, Bo Wang, and Harper Via for this advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC Kindle edition of The Chinese Lady.
This wasn't an easy book to read, but it was definitely worth the effort. The story begins in Canton, China, in 1820, where we meet Little Sparrow. I struggled a bit with the opening chapters because of the unfamiliar Chinese writing and terms, but once I got settled into the story, I was completely invested.
One of the hardest parts to read was the depiction of foot binding. The author does an excellent job of showing just how painful and traumatic the practice was for young girls. Those scenes stayed with me long after I finished the book. Imagine the pain of having a 4-1/2" long foot :(
Little Sparrow eventually becomes Julia Foochee Ching-chang King and is brought to America as the first Chinese woman in the United States. With the help of Margaret, the ship captain's wife, she learns English and American customs. She is then put on display as an attraction, eventually becoming part of Barnum's exhibitions.
The story follows Little Sparrow—later known as Julia, China, and Mrs. Moy—throughout her life as she navigates enormous changes, challenges, and discoveries. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I could really appreciate the amount of research and detail that went into bringing this story to life. I learned a lot about a piece of history I knew very little about.
My only complaint was the overuse of exclamation points, which I found distracting at times. That's probably one reason I tend to prefer audiobooks.
Overall, this is an interesting and informative historical fiction novel that tells the story of a remarkable woman and a little-known chapter of American history.
This wasn't an easy book to read, but it was definitely worth the effort. The story begins in Canton, China, in 1820, where we meet Little Sparrow. I struggled a bit with the opening chapters because of the unfamiliar Chinese writing and terms, but once I got settled into the story, I was completely invested.
One of the hardest parts to read was the depiction of foot binding. The author does an excellent job of showing just how painful and traumatic the practice was for young girls. Those scenes stayed with me long after I finished the book. Imagine the pain of having a 4-1/2" long foot :(
Little Sparrow eventually becomes Julia Foochee Ching-chang King and is brought to America as the first Chinese woman in the United States. With the help of Margaret, the ship captain's wife, she learns English and American customs. She is then put on display as an attraction, eventually becoming part of Barnum's exhibitions.
The story follows Little Sparrow—later known as Julia, China, and Mrs. Moy—throughout her life as she navigates enormous changes, challenges, and discoveries. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I could really appreciate the amount of research and detail that went into bringing this story to life. I learned a lot about a piece of history I knew very little about.
My only complaint was the overuse of exclamation points, which I found distracting at times. That's probably one reason I tend to prefer audiobooks.
Overall, this is an interesting and informative historical fiction novel that tells the story of a remarkable woman and a little-known chapter of American history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I initially balked at the title. Somehow, it felt dehumanizing to reduce the main character to her barest parts. However, as I read on, I realized this was purposeful. This story is about Little Sparrow as seen through the critical eyes of her mother figures and colleague, who don’t see her as a full-fledged human. Finally, at the end we get her perspective, which puts everything into clarity and all the misconceptions to rest. We also see how her life up so far had forged her, and how it made her hard, but also sensitive.
The central theme around this story is guardianship, whether it be mother-daughter relationships or senior to junior. But there was also themes of how one’s own complexes can distort reality, and even in the end Mrs. Moy is not infallible to that.
Every character had their own complexes they needed to sort out. I felt that each arc had purpose and propulsion. As well, each arc had their own distinctive voice. My favorite was of course Mrs. Moy.
I’m not sure if this is just because it’s an arc, but there are Chinese words written in Chinese characters and the romanization of them, but the style is not standardized. I can read Chinese, so this did not put me off, but I could see how this would put off monolinguals. If they do stick with the Chinese characters, my advice to monolingual readers would be to go into it with an open mind, and also see the shape of the character, and when it repeats in other sections. This will help you understand what is being talked about.
The central theme around this story is guardianship, whether it be mother-daughter relationships or senior to junior. But there was also themes of how one’s own complexes can distort reality, and even in the end Mrs. Moy is not infallible to that.
Every character had their own complexes they needed to sort out. I felt that each arc had purpose and propulsion. As well, each arc had their own distinctive voice. My favorite was of course Mrs. Moy.
I’m not sure if this is just because it’s an arc, but there are Chinese words written in Chinese characters and the romanization of them, but the style is not standardized. I can read Chinese, so this did not put me off, but I could see how this would put off monolinguals. If they do stick with the Chinese characters, my advice to monolingual readers would be to go into it with an open mind, and also see the shape of the character, and when it repeats in other sections. This will help you understand what is being talked about.
June 27, 2026
The Chinese Lady by Bo Wang is an amazing historical fiction read. It covers the story of Afong Moy and her journey to the United States in 1834 to be the “First Chinese Lady in America”. There really was an Afong Moy, but the true story is that we don’t know what happened to her because her last public exhibition was around 1851. That’s what makes this book magnificent. I love books based in history and well-researched, and this one definitely is. You can imagine Afong Moy’s life back in China, especially as it begins with the story of her mother, and the description of her foot binding with all the pain and disfigurement that came with it.
The book covers Afong’s life in China before she comes to the United States, and then her life having been essentially “sold” to the Carnes brothers to be a sideshow attraction in order to sell their merchandise that they were trading and shipping in from China. The Carnes brothers put her up in a well-appointed “Chinese Room” as a display showpiece with all of the merchandise that wealthy New Yorkers would want to purchase to keep up with their also wealthy neighbors. She even met the President of the United States, she was such a highly coveted attraction, especially due to her tiny bound feet.
In true history, we know that Afong Moy is lost to time, and her whereabouts became unknown. This is where this book picks up and carves out a plausible “second fiction” of what could have happened to the first Chinese Lady. She picks up with Barnum’s Menagerie, eventually escapes that and moves on to be a brothel madam in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Without telling the whole story, it was a page turner that kept me reading late into the night. Sure, the “join the circus or run a brothel” plot could be a little cliche, but I enjoyed the read thoroughly, and could imagine the real Afong Moy disappearing in history in a way similar to this. It was fun to dip into a piece of real history with a twist on how it could’ve ended. Great read.
Thanks to Bo Wang and HarperVia for this advanced reader’s copy.
The book covers Afong’s life in China before she comes to the United States, and then her life having been essentially “sold” to the Carnes brothers to be a sideshow attraction in order to sell their merchandise that they were trading and shipping in from China. The Carnes brothers put her up in a well-appointed “Chinese Room” as a display showpiece with all of the merchandise that wealthy New Yorkers would want to purchase to keep up with their also wealthy neighbors. She even met the President of the United States, she was such a highly coveted attraction, especially due to her tiny bound feet.
In true history, we know that Afong Moy is lost to time, and her whereabouts became unknown. This is where this book picks up and carves out a plausible “second fiction” of what could have happened to the first Chinese Lady. She picks up with Barnum’s Menagerie, eventually escapes that and moves on to be a brothel madam in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Without telling the whole story, it was a page turner that kept me reading late into the night. Sure, the “join the circus or run a brothel” plot could be a little cliche, but I enjoyed the read thoroughly, and could imagine the real Afong Moy disappearing in history in a way similar to this. It was fun to dip into a piece of real history with a twist on how it could’ve ended. Great read.
Thanks to Bo Wang and HarperVia for this advanced reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The first Chinese woman in America was known by a number of names, none of which were her own. Each section of "The Chinese Lady" follows her through several of her personas until she is able to tell part of her story herself.
When China opened to the west in the 1830's, Americans were crazy for Chinese goods and stories. Two American entrepreneurial types buy a young girl from her father to take home as a prop for their sales. Julia, or the Chinese Lady, as she is known, has bound feet and was taught English by the wife of one of the businessmen on the long voyage. Her "exotic" appearance, elegant way, and charisma draw people to her like flies to honey.
But the novelty of Julia and her goods wears off and she is cut off by people who have been saying she's family. Next stop: P.T. Barnum's American Museum. She disappears from history in the early 1850s, but Bo Wang's novel imagines what happens next.
This novel gets off to a strong start but the dissonance begins shortly after the Lady arrives in the US. We do not get to see her interior life, only her facade. By the time she gets agency over her own life there's not much to see. Her life is bleak. American attitudes towards people of other races continues to horrify. The early promise of The Chinese Lady is not realized.
Thanks to Edelweiss for a digital review copy of this novel
When China opened to the west in the 1830's, Americans were crazy for Chinese goods and stories. Two American entrepreneurial types buy a young girl from her father to take home as a prop for their sales. Julia, or the Chinese Lady, as she is known, has bound feet and was taught English by the wife of one of the businessmen on the long voyage. Her "exotic" appearance, elegant way, and charisma draw people to her like flies to honey.
But the novelty of Julia and her goods wears off and she is cut off by people who have been saying she's family. Next stop: P.T. Barnum's American Museum. She disappears from history in the early 1850s, but Bo Wang's novel imagines what happens next.
This novel gets off to a strong start but the dissonance begins shortly after the Lady arrives in the US. We do not get to see her interior life, only her facade. By the time she gets agency over her own life there's not much to see. Her life is bleak. American attitudes towards people of other races continues to horrify. The early promise of The Chinese Lady is not realized.
Thanks to Edelweiss for a digital review copy of this novel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
“The Chinese Lady” follows the life of a nameless woman, through her sequestered upbringing in Canton, to her enslavement by an American man using her as a prop to sell Chinese goods, to her time as part of the Barnum American “Museum”, and finally her taking hold of what little agency she has left to build a life for herself.
The novel is split into four different perspectives and while normally I’m not always a fan of this format, it worked well here. The array of experiences of the four women showcases their shared desperation and longing for significance and belonging.
The author does a great job of showing the interior lives of the first two characters, but I felt the second two sections could be a bit improved. I would recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about this quite dark page in history and who enjoy character-driven literature.
“The Chinese Lady” follows the life of a nameless woman, through her sequestered upbringing in Canton, to her enslavement by an American man using her as a prop to sell Chinese goods, to her time as part of the Barnum American “Museum”, and finally her taking hold of what little agency she has left to build a life for herself.
The novel is split into four different perspectives and while normally I’m not always a fan of this format, it worked well here. The array of experiences of the four women showcases their shared desperation and longing for significance and belonging.
The author does a great job of showing the interior lives of the first two characters, but I felt the second two sections could be a bit improved. I would recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about this quite dark page in history and who enjoy character-driven literature.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story begins with tragedy. A little girl having her feet broken and bound by her mother because lotus feet attract husbands. It is even said that even farmers want wives with lotus feet these days. Foot binding happens a lot in Chinese books and while I am not surprised I would like to read about a girl that didn’t have to suffer this or know a woman who has. It may be less realistic but it is not as though it did not happen. Anyway all of the Chinese dramas seem to avoid this and they are just fine. Just imagine if every novel about a woman set in Victorian England had them consuming arsenic for whiter skin. The book included that ‘corset torture’ scene for no reason at all. Folks, wearing a corset can in no way be compared to bound feet. Most women did NOT tight lace anymore than some women today choose to wear very very high heels. Imagine our era being defined by six-inch heels.
Little Sparrow is a footnote. A lot of the first chapters focus on her mother’s point of view which I thought distracted from the story. I asked myself ‘why are we not seeing this from our lead's perspective?’
There is no shortage of descriptions of sex and arousal. It begins to feel like a plate with too many different dishes on it. Overwhelming and does not move the story along at all. Then there is calling some characters by what I assume is the meaning of their names and not their actual names. I would rather see the actual Chinese name. Perhaps this and the insertion of Chinese characters will be changed in the final form. By part two I expected Little Sparrow, now Julia, to take control of the story but instead we get Margaret. In the end I did not feel this was “The Chinese Lady’s Story’ but rather that of those that came across her.
All this being said, the book does capture what Chinese women had to endure under the exotic gaze. It is rather gross that a person can be so stripped that they are not much more than a fine saddle. I felt sorry for Little Sparrow the entire time, but I wish this had been 'her' story.
Little Sparrow is a footnote. A lot of the first chapters focus on her mother’s point of view which I thought distracted from the story. I asked myself ‘why are we not seeing this from our lead's perspective?’
There is no shortage of descriptions of sex and arousal. It begins to feel like a plate with too many different dishes on it. Overwhelming and does not move the story along at all. Then there is calling some characters by what I assume is the meaning of their names and not their actual names. I would rather see the actual Chinese name. Perhaps this and the insertion of Chinese characters will be changed in the final form. By part two I expected Little Sparrow, now Julia, to take control of the story but instead we get Margaret. In the end I did not feel this was “The Chinese Lady’s Story’ but rather that of those that came across her.
All this being said, the book does capture what Chinese women had to endure under the exotic gaze. It is rather gross that a person can be so stripped that they are not much more than a fine saddle. I felt sorry for Little Sparrow the entire time, but I wish this had been 'her' story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fascinating historical fiction, based on a true story but also imagining a past and future for a woman we sadly don't actually know much about. The protagonist is called by and calls herself by many names throughout the book, but I'll refer to her as Afong Moy, the name the real person is known by historically. The book combines three 19th-century horrors: the Chinese custom of foot-binding, the American freak show, and the life of a sex worker in the real Wild Wild West. Afong is basically purchased from her family in China and brought to the United States to help sell "exotic" goods. She is later sold to P.T. Barnum's American Museum, and later escapes to reinvent herself as a San Francisco brothel madam. The novel has a lot of themes about mothers as well as the idea of women being on display in a variety of ways and cultures. A very interesting read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.
This book made my heart hurt. In 1834, the first Chinese woman was brought to the United States. While little is known about her life, the author does an excellent job using historical research to imagine what her experiences in China and the United States may have been like.
The book is divided into four parts. In the first three parts, her story is told through the perspectives of those around her. Several important issues are explored, particularly how she was viewed and treated in the United States. I found it especially interesting how some people believed they were helping or "saving" her. This story gave me a lot to think about.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher HarperAudio Adult | HarperVia, and the author for early access. All opinions are my own. ***
This book made my heart hurt. In 1834, the first Chinese woman was brought to the United States. While little is known about her life, the author does an excellent job using historical research to imagine what her experiences in China and the United States may have been like.
The book is divided into four parts. In the first three parts, her story is told through the perspectives of those around her. Several important issues are explored, particularly how she was viewed and treated in the United States. I found it especially interesting how some people believed they were helping or "saving" her. This story gave me a lot to think about.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher HarperAudio Adult | HarperVia, and the author for early access. All opinions are my own. ***
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I almost gave up on this book. I started it, set it aside, and then came back to it later—and I’m glad I did. While it took me a little time to get invested in the story, once I did, I found it fascinating and well worth the effort.
Although The Chinese Lady is not a true story, it imagines the life of the first Chinese woman brought to America and offers a thought-provoking look at what that experience might have been like. Bo Wang does an excellent job blending historical facts with fiction, creating a story that feels both believable and deeply human. At times, I had to rewind and relisten to keep track of some of the characters, but the rich historical details and emotional depth made it worthwhile.
This was a unique and memorable read that shed light on a piece of history I knew very little about. I’m glad I stuck with it.
Although The Chinese Lady is not a true story, it imagines the life of the first Chinese woman brought to America and offers a thought-provoking look at what that experience might have been like. Bo Wang does an excellent job blending historical facts with fiction, creating a story that feels both believable and deeply human. At times, I had to rewind and relisten to keep track of some of the characters, but the rich historical details and emotional depth made it worthwhile.
This was a unique and memorable read that shed light on a piece of history I knew very little about. I’m glad I stuck with it.
June 26, 2026
This was such a beautiful book. I didn't want it to end.
I loved the way the story was told. For much of the book, we get to know the main character (called many different things throughout the book) through the eyes of the people around her. Then, as her own voice gradually becomes part of the story, it makes her feel even more real and powerful. I thought that was such a smart and moving storytelling choice.
The historical details were fascinating, and while parts of the story were heartbreaking, I never wanted to stop reading.
More than anything, this is a story about identity, resilience, and reclaiming your own voice. The characters felt incredibly real, and I found myself completely immersed in their world.
This was an unforgettable debut, and one of my favorite historical fiction reads of the year.
I loved the way the story was told. For much of the book, we get to know the main character (called many different things throughout the book) through the eyes of the people around her. Then, as her own voice gradually becomes part of the story, it makes her feel even more real and powerful. I thought that was such a smart and moving storytelling choice.
The historical details were fascinating, and while parts of the story were heartbreaking, I never wanted to stop reading.
More than anything, this is a story about identity, resilience, and reclaiming your own voice. The characters felt incredibly real, and I found myself completely immersed in their world.
This was an unforgettable debut, and one of my favorite historical fiction reads of the year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A narrative about narratives - identity, perspective, irony, and the impact of context and circumstances on different people. I loved the palpable research devoted to this project, the historically accurate voices/tones/attitudes of various characters, and the author's commitment to un-sanitizing history. Well-written and engrossing! My only drawback was that I wished, though I felt it was still impactful as is/and I get the decision making, was that we got a tiny bit more of the first-person perspective from the transitional moments of Little Sparrow/Julia/China/Mrs. Moy interspersed.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A very sweet fictionalized account of the first female Chinese immigrant to the U.S. The book is based on a real person who was exploited by a team of merchants to market Chinese imports. When I looked her up online, I found that recorded history of her was very limited, so in reality, we don’t know anything of her life before her time here or after she stopped performing in New York City. The author crafted a story about independence, resilience, and perseverance, to tell how Afong Moy may have made a life for herself here in America.
June 8, 2026
I was completely invested in her story at the beginning. The historical setting and the premise immediately drew me in. As the novel progressed, though, it seemed to lose some of the focus that made the opening so compelling. New characters and storylines were introduced, and I never felt quite as connected to the narrative as I did in the first half. While I admired the research and ambition behind the story, this one ultimately didn’t work as well for me as I’d hoped.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Fascinating story detailing the historical arrival of the supposed first Chinese female to arrive in the U.S. Details, details, and terrific character development. How intelligence, instinct, survival allows her to grow, fight suppression and gain enormous wealth. A very strong woman who defied those who suppressed her, both male and female, despite the odds. A very good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE CHINESE LADY, Audiobook - This book is extremely interesting and intriguing when seen through the Lady's eyes. She reminds me of the Greatest Generation and their accomplishments between 1942 and 1945. Spoiler: I love that she got revenge. All the questions are answered by the last page. Narration by Jeena Yi, Cassandra Campbell, and Bahni Turpin made it easy to get immersed in the Lady's life. I started getting bored with the Barnum segment because I never cared for P.T. Barnum, but those characters are interesting. Source: NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult. 5*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story started strong, but then became disjointed with too many unrelated voices and plotlines that detracted from the main character's journey. The narrative lost its way after the initial section, becoming unfocused and rambling.
April 11, 2026
Reviewed for Library Journal; full review appears there.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While the writing often felt thoughtful and layered, I struggled with the overall direction of the story. At times it felt like it was saying a lot without fully coming together, and the narrative came across as somewhat scattered to me. Because of that, I had a hard time staying engaged and ultimately chose not to finish.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #TheChineseLady
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #TheChineseLady
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