The cover blurb for Sophie Wan's novel Women of Good Fortune (#1,213) calls the book "Joyous, indulgent, immensely clever." While I might agree with the "immensely clever" comment, I would never call this book either "joyous" or "indulgent".
Three women in Shanghai have been friends for years. None of them are happy with their lives as the book opens. Jane is married, but hates her looks, herself and her husband, not necessarily in that order. Rina lived and was educated in the US. She is unmarried, but at an age in China where her strivings in the corporate world are guaranteed to take her nowhere. She stays in Shanghai to take care of her ailing parents. Lulu, the third member of the trio, has seemingly hit the jackpot. She is about to marry the heir of one of the wealthiest families in Shanghai. Why isn't she happier about the life of luxury she is about to enter? Could it be because of all the demands her own family is placing on her?
The action of the novel revolves around the plot these three women devise to steal the millions of yuans which will be gifted to the happy couple at the lavish wedding ceremony attended by the cream of Shanghainese society. Lulu can head off to Thailand during the ceremony unwed as she's always dreamed, Jane can have her plastic surgery, and Rina? Rina will do what she always does best - organize and take care of everyone else's needs.
Will the story have a happy ending? Not the way these three pictured it.
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