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An evocative family drama and a riveting mystery about the ferocious pull of motherhood for two very different women— from the New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation.
"Intriguing. . . Kwok is a skilled writer of suspenseful family drama. . . . We root for Jasmine and Rebecca as they face impossible choices and emerge stronger for all the battles they’ ve fought, always resisting becoming the ‘ leftover’ women. ” — Leigh Haber, New York Times Book Review
Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City from her rural Chinese village without money or family support, fleeing a controlling husband, on a desperate search for the daughter who was taken from her at birth— another female casualty of China’ s controversial One Child Policy. But with her husband on her trail, the clock is ticking, and she’ s forced to make increasingly risky decisions if she ever hopes to be reunited with her daughter.
Meanwhile, publishing executive Rebecca Whitney seems to have it all: a prestigious family name and the wealth that comes with it, a high-powered career, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter she adores. She’ s even hired a nanny to help her balance the demands of being a working wife and mother. But when an industry scandal threatens to jeopardize not only Rebecca’ s job but her marriage, this perfect world begins to crumble and her role in her own family is called into question.
The Leftover Woman finds these two unforgettable women on a shocking collision course. Twisting and suspenseful and surprisingly poignant, it's a profound exploration of identity and belonging, motherhood and family. It is a story of two women in a divided city— separated by severe economic and cultural differences yet bound by a deep emotional connection to a child.
“ A magnetic meditation on secret histories, motherhood, love, and how we show up for each other in the most surprising of ways. A beautiful, propulsive story! ” — Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me
"A heart-tugging exploration of love, belonging, and the meaning of family." — Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The It Girl