The Chinese Groove

by Kathryn Ma

Anne Tyler meets Jade Chang in this buoyant, good-hearted, and sharply written novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his help—even if they don't know it yet

Eighteen-year-old Shelley, born into a much-despised branch of the Zheng family in Yunnan Province and living in the shadow of his widowed father’s grief, dreams of bigger things. Buoyed by an exuberant heart and his cousin Deng’s tall tales about the United States, Shelley heads to San Francisco to claim his destiny, confident that any hurdles will be easily overcome by the awesome powers of the "Chinese groove," a belief in the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders.

Upon arrival, Shelley is dismayed to find that his "rich uncle" is in fact his unemployed second cousin once removed and that the grand guest room he’d envisioned is but a crappy sofa. The indefinite stay he’d planned for? That has a firm two-week expiration date. Even worse, the loving family he hoped would embrace him is in shambles, shattered by a senseless tragedy that has cleaved the family in two. They want nothing to do with this youthful bounder who’s barged into their lives. Ever the optimist, Shelley concocts a plan to resuscitate his American dream by insinuating himself into the family. And, who knows, maybe he’ll even manage to bring them back together in the process.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, China, Book Club, Asian Literature, Family

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2023

About the author

Kathryn Ma was born and raised in Pennsylvania, part of a large extended family with roots in China and the U.S. She attended Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Kathryn is the author of the novel THE CHINESE GROOVE (Counterpoint Press) and THE YEAR SHE LEFT US (Harper Books), a NYT Editors' Choice Her short story collection, ALL THAT WORK AND STILL NO BOYS, won the Iowa Short Fiction Award and was named a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Discoveries Book.

Author photo by Andria Lo

Reviews

[Holly R W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! It is warm, wise, poignant, funny and sad. The story features Zheng Xue Li, who is an eighteen year old living in China. Throughout the course of the novel, he is known as "Shelley" (a name given to him by his English teacher.) He comes from humble beginnings - losing his mother at a young age and living with his grief-stricken father.

It was his mother's wish that Shelley live in the U.S. She foresaw that the U.S. could provide him with opportunities for a better life. Shelley's father somehow scrapes up the money for airfare and a passport. The plan is for him to live with a wealthy uncle and aunt (Ted and Aviva) in San Francisco, whom he has never met. The uncle and aunt think that they have agreed to host Shelley for only two weeks, which is not Shelley's intent.

The novel is filled with endearing characters. It is full of surprises. To me, it is a story of how strangers become family. Shelley has a knack for making the most of his circumstances and for creating friends.

"The Chinese Groove" is a delight to read.


Here is Kathryn Ma's discussion of her book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CBpL...

[Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Fredrik Backman, this heartwarming coming-of-age story follows Shelley, an 18 year old Chinese optimist who moves to the U.S. for bigger and better things. He's convinced of the general goodness of humanity, especially among his countrymen which refers to as 'the Chinese groove'—the idea that help will always be there when you need it. But upon his arrival in America, Shelley learns that things aren't always as they seem, or as he hopes they will be. His 'rich' uncle barely has room to host him for the first 2 weeks, and he's quickly scrounging for money to pay for his education and survival. Along the way, Shelley's optimism opens up doors for healing, growth and unexpected events to coalesce in a sweet story about family, loyalty, and doing the right thing.

I enjoyed this story. It is rare to read about such an endearing, likable and optimistic character in fiction. It reminded me of Backman's standalone novels like A Man Called Ove and Brit-Marie Was Here. The stakes are pretty low in this story, much more about the character dynamics and rooting for the main character to achieve what he has set out to do.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 I really enjoyed this book. I was engaged with all the characters. it’s all the dysfunctional family drama you could ask for. The characters led me through their life rather than the author telling me. I was able to lose myself in the story and forget everything around me which in my opinion makes for a great story
I will look 👀 for more books from Kathryn ma

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it ….

[Elena L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5/5 stars]

THE CHINESE GROOVE is about eighteen-year-old Shelley, born into a despised branch of Zheng family and who dreams big. He leaves Yunnan to try new life in America, heading to San Francisco to move in with his 'rich uncle'. Upon arrival, he finds out that many things told about his uncle family seem to be lies.

This is the story about a Chinese boy pursuing the American dream - one who desires to break free from 'rotten' roots and be successful regarding family/love/fortune. Unlike the majority of stories about the American dream, I love that this narrative doesn't revolve around the trauma aspects. By focusing on 'the light at the end of the tunnel' and taking delight in the hardships of life, Ma delivers a refreshing and hopeful approach which I appreciate since not all immigrant stories is only trauma.

Ma covers grief, filial piety, racism and reconciliation, balancing serious topics with splashes of humor. It was effortless to go through the pages and immerse myself in the characters' mind. There are broken families and unlikable characters whom one grows to like and even root for. The 'Chinese groove' worked its magic through the story and made me attached to the characters/plot. The Chinese tale of 'Peach Blossom forest' was the inspiration and I thought it offered shining moments to the novel. Some readers might find that the ending was tied up too neatly yet I absolutely loved it.

THE CHINESE GROOVE is a story that will warm your heart. You will yearn for home and learn that changes are often inevitable for a better future. I wasn't expecting to treasure this book as much as I did; and I highly recommend it.

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Counterpoint press . All opinions are my own ]

[Bonnie G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming family drama/immigrant story inspired I believe by David Copperfield (there are a whole lot of parallels, but I guess that could be coincidental.) Shelley, a poor boy from Yunan province, comes to America to take English lessons, get rich, and marry a pretty American born Chinese girl. He ostensibly does this with money his father procured from his employer, but it turns out there is a more complicated story. He assumes he will arrive in SF and fall into the Chinese Groove, where he will be cared for and employed by his relatives whom he (wrongly) believes to be rich and eager to take in any family member that lands on the their steps. I personally started out laughing at Shelley's naivete and hubris, then became frustrated by it, and eventually started rooting for him and seeing that his way of seeing the world, and especially his belief in the unending bonds of family and community, had real value. I won't say more, but it is a fun story of hurting and healing (for all the characters, every one of them impacted by real grief.) The pacing was a bit off and the middle 1/3 dragged -- too much time was spent on a couple side stories (Hamilton's story and Shelley's "love story") that were central to the story, but required about 33% of the time that was devoted to them. I would actually argue a couple of minor storylines could have been excised because there were maybe too many characters - though admittedly each had a unique voice. Still, the whole was truly enjoyable and Shelley's story was inspirational without being sentimental, and it never made me want to vomit, which is nearly unheard of for me with inspirational stories.

I really liked the reader for this audiobook. Shelley is a complicated character to fully embody, and I thought James Chen did an admirable job.

[Krista | theliterateporcupine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that took me longer to finish than it should have because I didn't want it to end. I instantly got sucked into the storyline and never stopped rooting for Shelley. Many of the characters are loveable, and even the ones that aren't are still relatable to real life. This was the type of book that lasts with you long after you turn the last page.

"Eighteen-year-old Shelley, living in the shadow of his widowed father’s grief, dreams of bigger things. Buoyed by an exuberant heart and his cousin Deng’s tall tales about the United States, Shelley heads to San Francisco to claim his destiny, confident that any hurdles will be easily overcome by the awesome powers of the "Chinese groove," a belief in the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders."

Shelley is the type of character you immediately fall in love with. He is perpetually innocent and optimistic, which sounds annoying, but is actually very well done through the author's writing style and plot. This book also addresses serious topics such as family estrangement, modern bias towards Chinese immigrants, and the falsified perception of the American Dream as seen through other cultures' eyes. These subjects are portrayed through Shelley's eyes, however, in such a way that they can have an impactful yet humorous spin on them. The dialog is witty, the characters human, and the story all too realistic.

Heartwarming, Humorous, and Honest this was such a wonderful novel about the struggles and triumphs of immigrants, no matter how small.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a creatively laid out, character driven novel that follows the life of an eighteen-year-old young man from China who travels to San Francisco in search of Family, Love and Fortune.

Life is a journey and the main character, Shelley, learns quite a few life lessons on his immigration quest towards attaining his goals.

It started out slow, but my appreciation for this humorous and endearing book grew exponentially as the story progressed.

I would recommend this book to those readers who enjoy family dramas that aren't too stuffy.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and big-hearted book about a young Chinese immigrant to the US named nicknamed Shelley (for the convenience of English speakers and for his love of poetry). He’s left his sad home in Yunnan province, where his widowed father continues to mourn his dead wife, drink heavily and fail to look very well after his son, and where they are very much a despised lesser branch of the family taken advantage of by the others. In spite of all this depressing baggage, young Shelley remains loopily optimistic, falling in love with an American girl at the school he attends for English lessons and, determined to win her, somehow scraping together the necessary to go to San Francisco on a student visa with only a few dollars in his pocket and an introduction to some distant relatives. They are a mixed-race couple (Chinese and Jewish) with tragedy in their past and a fractured family, but they’ve agreed to put Shelley up for a couple of weeks, so he arrives, determined to work the “Chinese groove” to make his way. (The groove mainly consists of the extended community holding out a helping hand to others of their own; there’s more to it, but explaining it is part of the novel’s charm, so I’ll leave it at that.) Shelley’s misapprehensions of American life are many and humorous (e.g. poets are greatly respected and make a ton of money in the U.S.), and he has a harder time finding his feet than he expected, but he also has that endearing optimism and a helping nature going for him, and he does make his way bit by bit. Just so warm and lovely, funny and a tiny bit sad too.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kathryn Ma's The Chinese Groove is a refreshing read that explores in ways both serious and humorous the experiences of "Shelly" Zhang (yes, nicknamed after the poet), a Chinese student coming to the U.S. to study English. Shelly comes to the U.S. with inflated expectations, sure the distant relatives he'll be staying with at first will be so charmed that they'll invite him to live with them permanently. The family used to own a small bodega; Shelly convinces himself it still exists, is the biggest store in San Francisco, and that he'll land a well-paid, lifetime job there. And he's going to reunite with an American girl he was briefly involved with when she stayed with her aunt—Shelly's English teacher—in China.

One knows from the start that Shelly's dreams are unreasonable. What makes the book an enjoyable read is the way Shelly is able to overcome barriers and to reshape challenges into opportunities. Without giving spoilers, I can say that in the process he learns a great deal about what family is and isn't, becomes friends with people he never would have met in China, and finds a path for himself.

If you're looking for a bit of generous, light-hearted reading, The Chinese Groove should prove just the ticket.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Susan Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vibrant story of a young immigrant from China (Shelley) and the extended family he comes to help in San Francisco and who help him in return. He's bound by the unspoken ways of the Chinese Groove to the bonds of those from his home country. Shelley has much to learn in his first ten months in the Bay Area and finding his way, while navigating the ties of his new family he comes to know there. The narrative interestingly puts you in his shoes and circumstances.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naïve, but endlessly optimistic, intelligent and sharp-eyed main character Zheng Xue Li ("Shelley") moves from his home in the Yunnan Province in China to San Francisco ("Peach Blossom Land") to attend school for an intensive English program. He has been fed on a steady diet of how his branch of his large family is shameful because of the illegitimate parentage of his ancestor. He also believes that his uncle Ted in the US is wealthy and the owner of a successful department store.

The truth ends up being much more prosaic, and Shelley has to find housing and money on his own after his two-weeks stay with his uncle are up. Knowing that "the Chinese Groove" will somehow provide, Shelley soon ends up squatting with Eddie, and working in a restaurant while attending classes. He becomes acquainted with a variety of colourful characters, and manages to find housing and work caring for his uncle's father Henry; there is bad blood between father and son, and Shelley finds himself between the two intransigent men. But Shelley also becomes a part of his Ted's family's circle of friends, and cares for so many people, and finds success, though not in the way he anticipated.


Despite his naïveté, Shelley is so charming and always able to spin adversity into a different, positive direction. He is a keen observer, and quick to sieze opportunity. He discovers the US isn’t the land of gold for immigrants like him, but still manages to find kindness, and staunch friends.

Kathryn Ma has crafted a wonderful character; the story is wise, full of compassion, and a good mix of bittersweet and happy. I loved spending time with the irrepressible Shelley.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was having fun with this lighthearted tale of a young and very optimistic Chinese immigrant to San Francisco, who found his 'wealthy' American relatives weren't as welcoming and prosperous as he had hoped. But he bounces back from some serious setbacks -- even a spell of homelessness only slows him down just a bit. He's a charmer, and I was oh so ready for wedding bells and a happy ending. And the family stuff is so nicely done....

Alas, I HATED the twist ending! He returns to China with his Dad. and settles there, in a sad, grotesque and unbelievable twist of fate. Aargh! Why did the author do this??

Oh well. There's enough Good Stuff up to then for me to (somewhat grudgingly) give the book a weak 2.5 star overall score, and round it up. But why, oh why, did the author not make this the sweet, happy-ending story I wanted? Bah. Humbug!

The review that led me to read it:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/24/bo...
"Immigrant novels are so frequently tales of devastating woe, but Ma’s iteration of the young migrant story is imbued with inherent optimism. Shelley’s buoyancy is frustratingly naïve, and often completely foolish...."

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet book!!

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like I was reading a biography or memoir. The author really made it seem like Shelley was the writer. I really enjoyed the whole story. Shelley’s mother, who passed when Shelley was a kid, wanted him to go to the USA and basically fulfill his dreams. Initially, Shelley stays with his distant relative, Ted, and his wife, Aviva. Eventually Shelley finds a way to stay longer in the States by being Henry’s caregiver, who is Ted’s father. Throughout the story, Shelley’s relationship with his father and Ted’s relationship with Henry are kind of resolved. I loved the relationship between Shelley and Henry and how he was the main one to bring Ted and Henry back. I hate Deng and he deserves nothing but unfortunately he knows how to make money. The end was a nice resolution. I hope people will pick this up and give it a read.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

To say this book was a disappointment is an understatement. If you read this without seeing the blurb, in a nutshell it's about a Chinese 18 year old from the despised branch of his family (his father was the son of a concubine, sort of a third wife situation) whose father gets money to send him to the US in order to fulfill a wildly inflated dream of what life is like there. It's supposed to be comedy.

I lived in San Francisco for several years and there was zero feel for the city as a whole in this, which was surprising since this is where the author lives. There were a few funny moments, but overall the humour wasn't that good. The plot promised to be strong, but in the end it wasn't. I wasn't over-hyped about the book because the average stars is 3.99 which is a very good average, but not so over the top I want something stellar.

That said, I didn't hate it and it wasn't terrible, so I'm giving it 2 stars, not one.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a family drama about an 18-year-old Chinese immigrant, eternally optimistic by nature. He expects to move in with a rich uncle and quickly become rich by writing poetry even though he has never yet written any. Reality quickly crashes down around him, but his spirits remain positive. Shelley may not be the relative the family wanted, but he’s the one they need.



I’d normally find this kind of story boring but it was charming overall and contained interesting cultural elements.

*Reader’s Choice Nominee Spring 2024*

Language: Several instances of strong language
Sexual Content: Fade-to-black scenes
Violence/Gore: Mild
Harm to Animals: Dog runs away and is never seen again
Harm to Children: Child dies in backstory
Other (Triggers): Grief; family dysfunction; homelessness; betrayal by love interests; minor bigotry in background

[Alena · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight. I read my fair share of books by Chinese authors so the title on its own grabbed my attention because there is a groove to the language and societal interactions in books by Chinese authors that is unique and compelling. Kathryn Ma calls that out squarely in this coming of age story about a young Chinese man trying to find Family, Love and Fortune in America.
I can't say that the writing is brilliant or the story is something I've never read, but it was good and interesting. The protagonist, Shelley to his American friends, is just a regular guy with a good heart making lots of mistakes. But he understands the Chinese Groove and recognizes and utilizes it throughout the story. I found him awkwardly charming and I rooted for him to figure out what was truly important.

[Ld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book it was so so relatable and heartwarming. As someone of Jewish and Chinese descent I found the culture differences and individual portrayal very similar to my own experience. It's fun to see yourself represented in GORGEOUS books like this one. Also takes place in SF like hello me when a book is literally about me. It made me cry, laugh, smile and I think everyone should read it. Best book of 2023??!! It was giving literature but in one of the few books students would tolerate yk. READ IT!!!!!

[Savanna]

I always love reading about immigrant stories and think they are crucial to gaining empathy for the hardships they go through. The main character, Shelly, goes through many difficult challenges once he’s made it to America but his upbeat personality makes the book feel not too heavy. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and how they evolved throughout the story. Henry was a favorite character and I loved his role in the book. This was a great read!

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zheng Xue Li, who goes by Shelley, is sent to the US to fulfill his dying mother’s wish. Since his San Francisco family only agreed to host him for 2 weeks, he is left to come up with his own solutions. It’s fun to see Shelley enrich the lives of others as he finds his place in America. In THE CHINESE GROOVE, Kathryn Ma creatively uses a naive, lovable character to examine serious topics such as homelessness, cultural differences, racism, grief, and the pursuit of the American dream. I enjoyed this entertaining coming-of-age story.

[Michael Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great feel good book; also i got a kick out of it being about a chinese dude going from china to SF and reading it as a chinese dude on a plane from SF to china

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted and humorous, yet empathetic: Kathryn Ma’s THE CHINESE GROOVE plays on the American dream, told through the optimistic, clever, and slightly bombastic Shelley, who packs his bags and flies to San Francisco to seek his fortune. He is buoyed by the “Chinese groove,” described as “the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders.” When he arrives though, nothing is as he expected. Everything about America seems to have been over-exaggerated, and his family in San Francisco is falling apart.

There’s a lot to be said about the way Ma incorporates different configurations of family and love, exploitation and openness. Pick up if you’re looking for something playful yet still makes you think. Some plot, some vibes, and definitely a good time.

[Thank you Counterpoint Press for the gifted copy, out 1/24]

[Booknblues · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never had the pleasure of reading a book by Kathryn Ma before, but now that I have read The Chinese Groove, I am definitely going to search her out.

Shelley, an 18 year old from Yunnan Province in China journeys to San Francisco to stay with his uncle with the hopes of making his fortune as a poet. Things don't quite go as he expected, but Shelley is both an eternal optimist and adapt at misunderstanding. Shelley is a survivor in whatever circumstances he finds himself.

Kathryn Ma has a wonderful way with humor that does not misguide one from understanding the depths of pain and tragedy. She has created characters which we love and feel sad to leave behind when the book closes.

There are many serious issues within this book, one of which is the relationship of fathers and sons. Talking with his uncle Ted about their relationship with their fathers:

“We outsourced our fathers—” “They had to look elsewhere, and it didn’t turn out so well.” I nodded glumly, for what could be done about it?

Most of all The Chinese Groove is a book that leaves you with a happy feeling and I love that when I finish a book.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right book at the right time, at least for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sure, context matters, and I'd just consumed a strong, nay, jarring dose of contemporary non-fiction that had left me vacillating between despondent and, um, shall we say, far from optimistic and upbeat; ... and my spouse, of many years, who knows me well (duh), had recently told me she thought I'd really like this, and, yup, she was right. While I didn't read it in one sitting, it was darn close.

The hook grabbed me right from the start, the narrator's voice resonated, the momentum sustained itself, and there were just enough (but not too many) characters to care about pretty much all of them, and the ending didn't disappoint (despite my cascading anxieties that I was sure to be disappointed), and a little sniffling/snuffling at the end never hurt anyone.

I concede that, when I first heard about it, I was skeptical and somewhat disinclined, particularly because I'd so much appreciated Interior Chinatown and I feared this might wilt in comparison, but I shouldn't have hesitated. And, yes, that was a lazy case of mental shelving, but I digress.

A fun, fast, gratifying book.

[Elizabeth Rynecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful story of youthful bravado, family, immigration, and place. 18 year old Shelley has big dreams and not a lot of great prospects. We fall in love with him for his clever outlook, optimism, and belief that the Chinese Groove will be good to him.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelley moves to San Francisco from rural China at 18 for the “American Dream” but quickly realizes all is not as it seems. A very charming and heartwarming read about family, friendship, and the immigrant experience, with humorous narration and endearing characters. Books set in SF always end up having a special place in my heart, but this one especially with its Chinese immigrant/international student backdrop. To my SF friends, I think you’d enjoy this one!

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun, so easy, read on my phone in class and laughed out loud during lecture….

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Kathryn's prior novel, a drama, I was somewhat shocked by how funny this latest book is. Shelley comes to San Francisco from China to attend college, meet family, find love, and get rich. It's the American dream.

He is, of course, a fish out of water, and his first person observations of life here (specifically here, as I live in SF) are the source of most humor. Something like that could get old fast, but Shelley is such a winning narrator, it's hard not to fall for his charm and root for him and those around him.

[johnny ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

protect shelley at all costs.