The Leftover Woman

Excerpt | Reviews | Discussion Questions

Two women. Two worlds. One impossible choice.

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.

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 desperate 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.

REVIEWS

* Good Morning America Book Club Buzz Pick *

* CBS New York Book Club Top 3 Pick *

* Book of the Month Pick *

* LibraryReads Pick, chosen as a top ten book by America’s library staff *

* Reader’s Digest Book Club Pick *

* An Indigo Best Book of the Year *

* Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller *

* Writer’s Digest Cover Feature *

“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

“Kwok brings her signature lyrical prose to the novel, while suspense simmers in the background. Highly recommended.”
— Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Searching for Sylvie Lee author Jean Kwok’s latest, The Leftover Woman, is a heart-wrenching examination of transracial adoption and its influence in the lives of a Chinese American child and the two mothers who love her. One is Jasmine, the child’s biological mother, a woman on the run from her husband; the other is Rebecca, the wealthy American executive who adopted Jasmine’s daughter. The resulting intersection of their lives makes this book not only a suspenseful read, but also an introspective journey into the bonds of family, country, class, and race.”
— ELLE, Best Books of 2023

“Intriguing... The pages keep turning... Kwok is a skilled writer of suspenseful family drama... We root for Jasmine and Rebecca as they face impossible choices and emerge stronger for the battles they've fought, always resisting becoming 'leftover women.'”
— The New York Times Book Review

“In The Leftover Woman, Jean Kwok weaves a riveting drama about motherhood and belonging.”
— Time

“Anyone looking for an of-the-moment page-turner of a novel need look no further.”
— NPR, 5 Mysteries and Thrillers New This Fall

“This poignant mystery sparks fascinating questions about motherhood, class and identity.”
— Real Simple, Best Books of 2023

“A compelling and moving mystery in which threads converge and dangers pile up.”
— The Guardian

“Two women on a collision course hurtle through twists and turns to a high-octane ending that will have you tearing through the pages.”
— Woman & Home

“The devastating choices of each woman land them in an explosive reckoning that will change both of their lives.”
— Popsugar

“Two stories intertwine in this exciting tale.”
— Daily Mail

“Has the heart and heft of literary fiction and the couldn't-put-this-down-even-if-tried engine of a thriller.”
— TheSkimm

“A heart-tugging exploration of love, belonging, and the meaning of family.”
— Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The It Girl

“Jasmine arrives in the United States in search of her daughter, whom her abusive husband gave up for adoption. Soon, she learns the child was taken in by a wealthy New York publishing family... she must field threats that could reveal her secret.”
— The New York Times, 34 Works of Fiction to Read This Fall

“The lives of two women — a privileged book editor and a Chinese immigrant navigating Manhattan's underworld — collide in this emotion-packed thriller.”
—People, Must-Read Books for Fall

“At once a hugely atmospheric and suspenseful mystery and a compelling exploration of motherhood and belonging that packs a profound emotional punch. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book.”
— Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Apartment

“What a page-turner! The Leftover Woman asks aching questions about family and love even as it hop-scotches across cultures and classes, bringing both tragedy and hope. A marvelous read.”
— Gish Jen, award-winning author of The Resisters

“A haunting, emotionally powerful story about motherhood, family, oppression, immigration, and power. Kwok is an impressive talent whose books resonate with deeply felt emotion and expertly crafted plotting.”
— Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and the Will Trent series

“The two women are on a collision course, and the clock is ticking.”
— The New York Post, Books to Read This Fall

“Jean Kwok has done it again. Her newest novel will make your heart race as it follows two determined women: one whose choices have been limited, and one who has the world at her feet. Her heroines cross languages, borders, and cultures to collide in a confrontation that leaves blood on their hands. As gorgeous as it is thrilling, The Leftover Woman tells a story of identity, ambition, and love that makes us look again at who we are and who we're forced to be. It asks us: How far would you go to get what you want?”
— Julia Phillips, bestselling author of Disappearing Earth, finalist for the National Book Award 

“The tough realities of life as an immigrant are well described.”
— The Literary Review

“An utterly riveting novel about two very different mothers, The Leftover Woman is not only an absolutely propulsive thriller but also a profound exploration of poverty and privilege, oppression and escape, desire and the self. This spellbinding narrative of immigration and hidden identity proves in so many ways that love has no boundaries.”
— Lan Samantha Chang, Director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Pen Open Book Award winner and author of The Family Chao, one of Obama’s Books of Summer

“A highly entertaining page-turner.”
— Kirkus

“Hooks readers with an emotionally gripping story of two mothers willing to risk everything to protect what they love, skillfully balancing perspectives to a riveting climax.”
— LibraryReads, Top Ten Adult Books Chosen by America’s Library Staff

“The Leftover Woman is an unforgettable, beautifully written page-turner that’s about so many things at once: a courageous woman fighting to escape an abusive husband, a mother’s love and sacrifice, and how culture and language dramatically change the lens through which we are seen and evaluated by others. Jean Kwok uses an intricately layered plot to ensnare and mesmerize us with fierce, complex characters. I absolutely adored this novel, from its tantalizing first pages to the poignant ending.”
— Angie Kim, bestselling author of Miracle Creek, Edgar winner

“Propulsive... engrossing and suspenseful.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Jean Kwok established herself as a writer to watch with her stunning debut, Searching for Sylvie Lee, and her upcoming novel is just as emotional, beautiful, and haunting. Kwok has woven an impeccably plotted domestic thriller that culminates in a profoundly satisfying ending, and I must insist that everyone pick this one up.”
— CrimeReads

“This intriguing novel is family drama hung on the scaffolding of a mystery story.”
— Goodreads, Fall’s Best New Mysteries and Thrillers

“The Leftover Woman is a gripping, emotional story of women forced to make impossible (sometimes life-and-death) decisions. Driven by love and self-determination, Jasmine and Rebecca present fierce representations of motherhood rife with vivid struggles and triumphs that lodged right in my heart. Jean Kwok once again delivers suspense and passion within a character-driven framework that readers can't help but lose themselves in. The Leftover Woman is one of the best and brightest books of the year!”
— Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon, Read with Jenna Pick

“Set against the backdrop of a city divided by disparities, economic inequality, and cultural collisions, The Leftover Woman guarantees and immersive expedition into identity, human relationships, and the unbreakable bonds of motherhood.”
— Wealth of Geeks, Fall’s Most Delicious Book Offerings

“This thrilling story about two very different women on a shocking collision course is also a profound exploration of identity and motherhood.”
— SheReads, Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2023