This novel covers many topics and it was especially interesting reading about the perspectives of the American Dream from these women. QUICK TAKE: I really loved this soapy caper about two Asian American friends who build a global counterfeit purse ring, This is THE USUAL SUSPECTS meets HUSTLERS, full of escapism and wish fulfillment, but it is also a grounded exploration of motherhood and culture and class. Chen tries to pack all this in, but the whole thing collapses under the weight of her vision and her indecision and her mediocre prose.

Kirstin’s second novel Bury What We Cannot Take, published in 2018, is set against the backdrop of early Maoist China and follows a mother, father, brother and sister as they grapple with an agonizing decision and attempt to flee mainland China. This is the story of two buck the system young women of Chinese descent, developing a system to pass off counterfeit handbags as originals.It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. The closest I got to liking something was when I drew two massive triangles on my face, but I was still not a fan. It is a convincing tale of woe that provokes some sympathy for Ava, especially as it seems Winnie has disappeared and left her holding the bag, so to speak, and is the perfect set up from Chen for the revelations in Part II. No surprise that the sly feminist caper was the subject of a fierce eight-way bidding war for TV rights. What it ended up being, however, is exactly what I was hoping when it was first announced by Reese over on the ‘Gram.

But when their spectacular success is threatened and Winnie vanishes once again, Ava is left to face the consequences. It has also been recommended by The Washington Post, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Vogue, Time, Oprah Daily, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Parade, and more. I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a light read that will take you somewhere different.Eva’s toddler Henri had some sections that were really difficult to read about, as he has non-stop tantrums and must have been immensely colicky for his entire life. College roommates Ava Wong and Winnie Fang were never close—but now they are literally partners in crime, with a designer handbag scam as brazen as it is foolproof. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item.

With all that said though, this wasn’t just a superficial story about a counterfeit handbag business gone awry. She finds out the secret to her success is that Winnie is running an illegal counterfeit exchange importing near-exact replicas of luxury handbags. Her husband is a doctor, and has recently taken a new job, staying in an apartment near the hospital on weekdays, leaving her even more alone. Had this book been longer I feel these topics could have been touched upon even more and ultimately expanded on. Make no mistake, “Counterfeit” is an entertaining, luxurious read — but beneath its glitz and flash, it is also a shrewd deconstruction of the American dream and the myth of the model minority.

Winnie has developed an ingenious counterfeit scheme that involves importing near-exact replicas of luxury handbags and now she needs someone with a U. Winnie asks Ava for a favour involving her counterfeit luxury handbag trade, but soon the “favours” turn more frequent and Ava finds herself caught in the shady activities.